U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) head Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced the 2023 Export Lender of the 12 months Award winners. The awards have fun lenders who’ve demonstrated commitment to boosting access to capital for small businesses participating in international trade. This yr, Regions Bank and Amerant Bank have been named 2023 Export Lenders of the 12 months, while Berkshire Bank was awarded the 2023 International Trade Lender of the 12 months.
Administrator Guzman stated, “SBA has long provided capital and growth strategies to strengthen our nation’s small businesses. This includes creating pathways for entrepreneurs to successfully trade in global markets.” She added that the 2023 Export Lender Award winners have set the usual for helping the SBA deliver financing, enabling small businesses to grow, diversify revenue, create jobs, and compete globally.
SBA Associate Administrator for the Office of International Trade, Gabriel Esparza, emphasized the importance of local and regional institutions as key partners for the financial sector’s stability. Esparza praised the winners, Regions Bank, Amerant Bank, and Berkshire Bank, for his or her role in providing crucial export financing and supporting export activity.
The Export Lender of the 12 months Awards recognize excellence in export financing and highlight lenders’ accomplishments in delivering SBA’s international finance programs to small businesses. These programs aim to assist businesses develop recent markets, finance export transactions, and expand capability to fulfill overseas demand.
Regions Bank – Export Lender of the 12 months
- Based in Birmingham, Alabama
- Top Export Working Capital Lender for the past 4 years
- Provided over $36 million in financing support in 2022
- Maintains the most important energetic EWCP portfolio nationally
Amerant Bank – Export Lender of the 12 months
- Headquartered in Coral Gables, Florida
- Export loans account for over half of their commitments
- Provided over $20 million in financing support in 2022
- Applied for delegated authority in 2023
Berkshire Bank – International Trade Loan (ITL) Lender of the 12 months
- Based in Boston, Massachusetts
- Provided $15 million in financing support for small business exporters
- Approved 193 SBA loans totaling $200 million in 2022
U.S. exports play a major role within the nation’s economy, with 97.4% of all exporters being small businesses. In fiscal yr 2022, the SBA guaranteed $423 million in financing to small business exporters, supporting over $1.6 billion in export sales.
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