The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) is the official export credit agency of the United States. You may know about their working capital and export credit insurance programs, but did you know they’re offering new products for small and medium sized U.S. businesses? These programs will enable more U.S. small and mid-sized businesses to be competitive internationally and create more jobs by exporting more goods and services to more customers in more countries.

The new products provide a faster, simpler insurance application process; project financing for small-scale renewable projects; increase liquidity for small-business suppliers of goods and services to U.S. exporters; and ensure access to private-sector insurance to cover the risks of nonpayment by foreign buyers.

Global Credit Express
The Global Credit Express program is specially designed to deliver short-term working capital loans directly to creditworthy small business exporters. Through this new program, exporters like you may be eligible for a 6- or 12-month revolving line of credit of up to $500,000. Global Credit Express adds liquidity to the U.S. small business export market by financing the business of exporting rather than specific export transactions. This is a pilot program currently offered through a select number of Originating Financial Institutions (lenders) nationwide.

Express Insurance
Express Insurance simplifies small business exporters' access to credit insurance on their short-term export receivables. It also makes it easier for them to obtain financing of those receivables. A streamlined online application provides a policy quote and credit decisions up to $300,000 on foreign buyers within five workdays or less (requests exceeding $300,000 will require additional time).

Renewable Express
Renewable Express helps U.S. exporters of solar-energy equipment, technology and services by providing streamlined financing of their exports to small solar-energy projects in international markets. Ex-Im Bank can consider project financing for small renewable-energy producers seeking loans of $3 million to $10 million in as few as 60 days.

Supply Chain
Ex-Im Bank's supply-chain guarantee strengthens the supply chain by helping U.S. suppliers to expand their sales to U.S. customers that export. It increases liquidity for small-business suppliers by enabling participating lenders to purchase suppliers' accounts receivable that are due from U.S. exporters. It increases cash flow for small-business suppliers by ensuring the prompt payment of these receivables and lowering the cost of credit.

About Ex-Im Bank
The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) is the official export credit agency of the United States. Ex-Im Bank's mission is to assist in financing the export of U.S. goods and services to international markets. Ex-Im Bank enables U.S. companies — large and small — to turn export opportunities into real sales that help to maintain and create U.S. jobs and contribute to a stronger national economy. Ex-Im Bank does not compete with private sector lenders but provides export financing products that fill gaps in trade financing. They assume credit and country risks that the private sector is unable or unwilling to accept. They also help to level the playing field for U.S. exporters by matching the financing that other governments provide to their exporters.

Ex-Im Bank provides working capital guarantees (pre-export financing); export credit insurance; and loan guarantees and direct loans (buyer financing). No transaction is too large or too small. On average, 85% of their transactions directly benefit U.S. small businesses. With more than 77 years of experience, Ex-Im Bank has supported more than $456 billion of U.S. exports, primarily to developing markets worldwide. In 2011, the two largest export markets assisted by Ex-Im Bank were India and Mexico.

In addition to Ex-Im Bank, there are export finance options available from the Small Business Administration (SBA). These programs include Facilities Development Financing, the Working Capital Program, and the Export Express loan program.

For more information on how these or other export financing programs can help your company or to schedule an appointment with Ex-Im Bank, visit our website or call us at 412-644-2800.