If you trade abroad or export goods or aspire to then trade and export finance may be helpful to allow you to borrow or release working capital to assist you in your activities.
Trading within your own country and managing the payment terms can be difficult enough without handling overseas transactions and costs which is where trade finance can help. Below we have explored what is available to support you.
The table below gives a quick comparison of the top UK providers for trade and export finance.
Company | Minimum amount | Maximum amount |
---|---|---|
HSBC | Not stated | Not stated |
NatWest | Not stated | Not stated |
Santander | Not stated | Not stated |
Ulster Bank | Not stated | Not stated |
Royal Bank of Scotland | Not stated | Not stated |
Aldermore | Not stated | Not stated |
Market Invoice | Not stated | Not stated |
Ultimate Finance | £25,000 | £1 million |
* The facts and figures included here come from each company’s website and were accurate at the time of writing but may have since changed. Also, please keep in mind these may not be apples to apples comparisons as each provider offers different solutions. This guide should be used as a starting off point for more research on your part.
Below we profile each of the companies’ services and features in a bit more detail.
Note companies are ranked in no particular order and this no way indicates one solution is better than another.
Topics
1. HSBC
Some of the features and benefits of HSBC’s trade and export finance.
- Choice of financial products
- Export Invoice Finance
- Import loans
- Export loans
- Short-term loans
- Increase working capital
- Help bridge the gap between purchasing and selling goods
- Pays your suppliers directly
- Supports all major currencies
- International trade expertise
HSBC is an international financial provider who has extensive experience in international trade in over 200 countries. They offer a range of business finance products which include Export Invoice Finance, import and export loans.
HSBC’s Export Invoice Finance releases cash from unpaid invoices up to 90% in a choice of currencies and supports businesses to manage their sales ledger. Their import loan supports buyers with tailored import finance to bridge the gap between purchasing and selling goods and can be arranged in any major currency to pay your suppliers directly. Their export loans are designed for international sellers to help them bridge the gap and will pay your suppliers directly.
2. NatWest
Some of the features and benefits of NatWest’s trade and export finance.
- Export Finance
- Tailored products and services
- Trade loans
- Trade discounting
- Supplier chain finance
- Short-term loan solutions
- Freeing working capital
- Release funding tied up in unpaid invoices
- Support your supply chain
- Dedicated export trade specialists
NatWest is a UK financial provider that offers a broad range of loan products designed for businesses which include export finance products like trade loans, trade discounting and supplier chain finance.
NatWest’s trade loan is a short-term working capital loan which is tailored to your transactions to fund activities such as sourcing, production, packaging and shipping. Their trade discounting allows you to release the money tied up in unpaid invoices up to 100%. Their supplier chain finance allows businesses to maintain stable cash flow in their supply chain through releasing working capital to the supplier which can help you to get better rates.
3. Santander
Some of the features and benefits of Santander’s trade and export finance.
- Trade finance solutions
- Simple and tailored finance
- Will mix their products to meet your needs
- Improve working capital
- Accelerate cash flow
- Help you manage risks, credit terms and payment flows
- Dedicated trade finance team
- Will understand your trading
- Expert help
- Available to established multi-national companies to those just starting trade internationally
Santander is an international finance provider who offers a broad range of business finance products which include loans and finance specifically for businesses who want to trade internationally through their trade finance solutions. Their trade finance solutions are suitable for established multi-national companies through to businesses just starting to trade abroad.
Santander’s trade finance offers simple and tailored finance solutions where they mix their products to create a product that meets your needs. Their dedicated trade finance team will listen to you about your trading circumstances to help you manage risks, credit terms and payment flows.
4. Ulster Bank
Some of the features and benefits of Ulster Bank’s trade and export finance.
- Global trade finance
- Supports both importing and exporting
- Improved cash flow
- Secure payments for exports
- Letter of Credit
- Import or export collections
- Variety of Bonds, Guarantees and Standby Letters of Credit
- Gives the buyer security in the form of a financial guarantee
- Supports you in competing globally
- Has a market-leading global online trade finance platform
Ulster Bank is an Irish financial banking provider who offers a variety of business finance products which includes loans and finance that are designed to support businesses that trade internationally through their Global Trade Finance solutions.
Ulster Bank’s Global Trade Finance solutions include a variety of finance options including Letters of Credit which offers a conditional bank guarantee of payment. Collections for import and export are internationally recognised method of settling overseas trade debt. Bonds, Guarantees and Standby Letters of Credit is a method of giving buyers a financial guarantee and security in the event of the seller failing to meet their contractual obligations.
5. Royal Bank of Scotland
Some of the features and benefits of Royal Bank of Scotland’s trade and export finance.
- Export Finance products
- Trade loans
- Trade discounting
- Supplier chain finance
- Tailored finance solutions
- Short-term loans
- Increase working capital
- Access funding from unpaid invoices
- Assist you in supporting your supply chain
- Dedicated export trade specialists
Royal Bank of Scotland is a UK banking provider that offers businesses a range of finance products which includes loans, credit cards, overdrafts and mortgages. Their loan range includes export finance solutions such as trade loans, trade discounting and supplier chain finance.
Royal Bank of Scotland’s trade loan is a tailored loan for pre-export financing on a short-term basis to help businesses produce and ship goods. Their trade discounting enables businesses to access up to 100% of unpaid invoices. Their supplier chain finance allows businesses to release working capital to suppliers earlier which will stabilise cash flow in the supply chain.
Royal Bank of Scotland website
6. Aldermore
Some of the features and benefits of Aldermore’s trade and export finance.
- Trade finance product
- Makes payments direct to the UK or overseas suppliers
- Reduce pressure on your cash flow
- Bridges the gap between purchase and sale
- Will handle your supplier payments for you
- Flexible solution
- Transparent approach
- Online portal to oversee transactions
- Pay suppliers or open a letter of credit
- Dedicated relationship manager
Aldermore claims to be one of the leading alternative banks who offer financial services products to businesses that are classed as SMEs. They offer a range of finance solutions that allow businesses to release funding from their business through trade finance, asset finance, invoice finance, contract finance and construction finance.
Aldermore’s trade finance is designed to handle your supplier payments for you through paying them on production on shipping documentation or through opening a letter of credit for up to 100% of the purchase price of the goods. This is a transparent and flexible finance solution which allows you to monitor transactions on their online portal.
7. Market Invoice
Some of the features and benefits of Market Invoice’s trade and export finance.
- Invoice finance
- Suitable for foreign debtor invoices
- Assists businesses that trade with a wide variety of countries
- Quick and easy access to funds
- Hassle-free experience
- Transparent terms
- No hidden fees
- Open to a variety of businesses
- No restrictions on the level of export sales
- Personal customer support
Market Invoice is a financial provider who offers business loan services which they provide through their smart online platform. They offer a range of business loans and invoice finance products that help businesses to fund their activities through loans and releasing cash flow from their invoices.
Market Invoice’s invoice finance is suitable for export businesses that have foreign debtor invoices in a wide variety of countries around the world with no restriction on your export levels. They allow you to quickly and easily access funds to increase your cash flow. Their invoice finance is hassle-free and has transparent terms which include no hidden fees.
8. Ultimate Finance
Some of the features and benefits of Ultimate Finance’s trade and export finance.
- Trade finance
- Unlocks funds
- Offers 120 days credit to pay suppliers
- Repay once the sale is completed
- Lends from £25,000 to £1 million
- Provides a revolving line of credit
- Set up fees and service charges apply
- Funding can be received within a week
- Available only to those that have an Ultimate Invoice Finance facility
- Offered to UK based businesses
Ultimate Finance is a financial provider who offers a variety of funding products to UK based businesses. They provide loans, invoice finance, asset finance and trade finance. Trade finance is designed to help UK businesses trading abroad but it is only available to businesses who use their Invoice Finance facilities.
Ultimate Finance’s trade finance helps businesses to unlock funds from £25,000 to £1 million with up to 120 days credit to pay suppliers. You will repay the loan when the sale is completed. This product is a revolving line of credit that can be utilised when needed up to your maximum borrowing amount.
* Please note we may be paid a fee if you visit Swoop and/or EJ Finance to take out a loan.