After two years of having to contend with a very challenging global trade environment, companies are ready to get back to business – and a forward thinking, innovative and solutions-focused trade finance partner is one of the most effective ways of doing just that.
FNB is such a trade finance partner, as was clearly evidenced when the bank took home the award for Best Bank for Trade Finance – South Africa, at the Digital Banker’s 2022 Middle East & Africa (MEA) Innovation Awards.
Widely considered a pinnacle of excellence within the global banking industry, the annual MEA Innovation Awards are a valuable source of insight into leadership and innovation, and the results of the annual awards are highly regarded by all sector stakeholders, including CFOs, corporate treasurers, banking executives and banking customers around the world.
Gordon Little, FNB Commercial CEO says “We are honoured to be recognised as a leading provider of trade finance in South Africa. This accolade validates the bank’s ongoing commitment to being a one-stop trade and logistics solution for SA businesses and delivering bespoke funding solutions that are built on a full understanding of each customer’s needs and objectives and are tailored to facilitate sustainable long-term growth.”
According to Bobby Madhav, Head of Trade: Structured Trade and Commodity Finance at FNB, “The award from The Digital Banker was based on its recognition of the Bank’s leadership position, both in terms of our highly individualised trade finance solutions, as well as our pioneering First Trade 360 logistics platform.
He says that the award underpins the value that the increasingly popular FNB First Trade 360 solution is delivering to growing numbers of South African importers and exporters. “Our First Trade 360 offering effectively extends the service and value we offer our customers beyond the mere provision of finance,” Madhav says, “giving them access to an integrated, end-to-end shipment management and tracking solution.”
“For the past few years, FNB’s trade finance division has been on a strategic journey to ensure that our customers and their unique trade and logistics requirements are firmly embedded at the centre of everything we do,” Madhav says, “and this Digital Banker award not only confirms that we are moving in the right direction and making good progress, but also that we have a comprehensive offering in place that allows businesses of all types, shapes and sizes to partner with us in order to optimise the value and effectiveness of their trade business.”
