Session Description:

This session will draw from two surveys conducted by Aite Group in Q2 and Q3 2008. One survey is of Canadian and U.S. middle-market companies’ financial or accounting senior managers regarding their trade finance needs and activities. Middle-market companies are defined as companies with annual revenues of $50 million to $500 million. The second is of top global trade banks’ trade finance or supply chain executives. It looks at the impact of open-account transactions on banks’ traditional trade finance business, the continued use of traditional trade finance and forecasts regarding the use and profitability of various trade finance mechanisms, and ways in which banks are responding.

The session will provide a description of the existing and expected trade finance market requirements for middle-market companies. It will provide an overview of the strategies of top trade banks to meet the needs of this important client base. Participants will understand where the market is, where it is going, and what opportunities banks have to support middle-market companies in trade finance. Further, ways to differentiate bank offerings by partnering with supply chain providers or using vendor solutions will be covered.

This session is appropriate for senior financial services executives with responsibility for Retail Banking, Middle Market Companies, Trade Finance, Supply Chain, Market Research and Strategy groups.
 

About Nancy Atkinson:
Nancy Atkinson is a senior analyst at Aite Group, LLC, specializing in wholesale banking issues including wholesale payments, trade finance and financial supply chain and working capital management. Her recent research has focused on electronic check processing and clearing, innovation in accounts payables and receivables, and transitions in the global wholesale payments market. Nancy has also examined opportunities to leverage procurement cards in corporate payables and the impact of health savings accounts on banks.

She has been widely quoted in various industry trade publications, including American Banker, Bank Systems & Technology, Cards & Payments, Prepaid Trends, and Wall Street & Technology. She has spoken at industry events such as the Visa Payment Forum, ETA Annual Meeting & Expo, NACHA’s Concurrent Council Meeting, NACHA’s Payments, several regional AFP conferences, Phoenix-Hecht, Infoline’s Graduate School of Electronic Payments, the National Association of State Treasurers and International Payment Systems.

Ms. Atkinson is a former Vice Chairperson of the National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA) Cross-Border ACH Council that developed U.S.-Canada-Mexico cross-border ACH capabilities. She is, also, a former Executive Committee Member of the Financial Services Technology Consortium (FSTC).

Ms. Atkinson is a Certified Cash Manager (CCM), and a formerly Accredited Automated Clearing House Professional (AAP). She holds an MBA from Cornell University.


About Aite Group:
Aite Group is a leading independent research and advisory firm focused on business, IT and regulatory issues and their impact on the financial services industry.

Aite Group was founded by leading industry experts in Banking and Securities & Investments. The corporate philosophy of Aite Group is firmly rooted in the founders' belief that in today's rapidly evolving financial services industry, clients seek comprehensive, timely, actionable advice.

Aite Group seeks to become a true partner, advisor, and catalyst by exchanging ideas and challenging basic assumptions to ensure that our clients always stay one step ahead of the competition.

www.AiteGroup.com