Global trade finance is undergoing a structural reset. Rising geopolitical risk, supply-chain fragmentation, tighter compliance standards, and the push toward real-time, digital execution are forcing banks, funds, and platforms to rethink how trade is financed, documented, and settled.
At the same time, clients—from multinationals to SMEs—are demanding faster liquidity, greater transparency, and solutions that work across increasingly complex corridors, including emerging and frontier markets.
This year’s trade finance winners stand out not just for scale, but for execution. They are using technology to strip friction out of legacy processes, deploying capital more efficiently, and embedding sustainability, automation, and advisory into core trade workflows. From tokenized guarantees and AI-driven document checking to integrated digital ecosystems and trade-as-a-service models, these institutions are redefining what “best in class” looks like in a market where reliability, speed, and risk discipline matter more than ever.
Best Trade Finance Provider – Bank
BNY
BNY’s extensive global trade footprint includes eight trade centers. The bank offers high credit ratings, global reach, competitive pricing, and consistent service for trade processing, risk mitigation, and financing. Services include full or partial trade outsourcing, leveraging the bank’s network and technology to reduce client costs. Key offerings are open account automation for digitized open-account trade, a fixed-income distribution platform for streamlining investor tracking and distribution, and a Trade Network Access Service to simplify compliance and reduce know-your-customer costs via BNY’s Relationship Management Application network. A collaboration with Mizuho Bank enhances international trade connectivity and compliance. BNY has implemented AI in trade-loan processing, significantly reducing time and risk.
Best Trade Finance Provider – Non-Bank
Alteia Fund
The Alteia Fund leverages its regulated presence in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) to strategically facilitate trade and investment between the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa. Operating from the ADGM, Alteia efficiently originates, structures, and deploys trade and supply chain finance for small and midsized enterprises (SMEs). This positioning acts as a bridge, connecting Gulf capital pools with African trade opportunities in key sectors like commodities, agriculture, energy, and logistics.
Alteia views the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as crucial global trading hubs. ESG is integrated into Alteia’s comprehensive risk assessment, focusing on longitudinal measurement, employment monitoring, and food-security evaluation, subject to formal audits.
Best Integrated Trade Finance Digital Platform
Bank Mandiri
Bank Mandiri uses a comprehensive physical and digital distribution strategy, with Kopra by Mandiri as its integrated digital wholesale platform. Kopra serves corporations, commercial businesses, financial institutions, government entities, and SMEs, supporting their operations and driving digital-banking growth. Kopra offers cash management, trade, and value-chain optimization, aiming for a complete, closed-loop digital ecosystem that integrates clients’ business processes and all associated parties. SMEs use the Kopra web portal while larger organizations use Kopra Embedded Finance. The platform enhances transparency and cash flow optimization, with corporate clients the main growth contributors.
Best Trade Finance Advisory Bank
Santander
Santander’s competitive edge is built on combining global execution with local coverage and expert sector advisory. Specialized local sales teams are deeply familiar with industry economics, supply chains, and risk norms. Evolving from a traditional lender into a strategic partner, Santander offers comprehensive support across the entire export-import life cycle. This shift moves the client conversation from simple product sales to structured solutions designed to meet the client’s full requirements, with trade tools serving as a means to an end rather than the primary focus.
The bank’s unique geographic advantage across the Europe-Latin America corridor (Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and Spain) is backed by international-desk specialists who offer essential local counsel.
Best Bank For Trade Finance Automation
DBS
DBS operates with a “digital to the core” philosophy, rapidly eliminating manual, paper-heavy bottlenecks in international trade. Key digital innovations include DBS DigiDocs, reducing document processing time from hours to minutes; and the integration of instant, AI-driven, credit-approval systems. The payment mechanism is modernized through triggering by APIs and smart contracts, complemented by the DBS RAPID platform for real-time tracking. At the heart of this operational excellence is a sophisticated AI layer that powers internal processes such as data-driven account planning and creditmemo generation.
Best Tokenized Trade Finance Solution
Citi
Citi Token Services for Trade is currently in its pilot phase, aiming to fundamentally modernize global trade finance by replacing traditional instruments like bank guarantees (BGs) and letters of credit (LCs) with blockchain technology and tokenized deposits. The solution moves away from paper-based BGs and LCs, instead utilizing a smart contract to hold the digital equivalent of the required cash, known as a tokenized deposit. This smart contract is a self-executing agreement where the terms of the trade are embedded directly into the code.
A key differentiator is the payment’s programmable nature. Once specific, predefined trade data—such as confirmation of shipping, customs clearance, or a delivery receipt—is verified and fed into the blockchain system, the smart contract instantly triggers the release of the tokenized funds to the seller or service provider. This process delivers near-instant liquidity, eliminating the long settlement delays associated with manual document verification. Citi validated this concept through a strategic pilot with major trade-ecosystem players, including global shipping giant Maersk and a major canal authority.
Best SME Trade Finance Provider – Bank
DBS
DBS offers a robust trade-finance solution designed to help SMEs achieve cross-border growth, secure reliable liquidity, and enhance supply chain stability. By connecting regional ecosystems and providing omnichannel support, DBS empowers SMEs to pursue growth confidently and sustainably.
The solution for SMEs has three pillars: First, expanded financing access through referral partnerships for cross-border and local-currency needs. Second, building supply chain resilience by integrating SMEs into digital ecosystems and financing structures, ensuring cash flow stability and supplier continuity. Third, equipping SMEs with insights and tools via risk managers, online platforms, and forums, enabling navigation of tariffs, regulations, and opportunities.
Best Trade Document Management
Standard Chartered
Standard Chartered is in the pilot phase with an AI engine for document digitization and augmented document checking. The bank’s focus is on enabling clients to detect discrepancies and alert document originators (exporters or shippers) to fix identified issues.
Best Provider Of Sustainable Finance Solutions In Trade Finance
Societe Generale
Societe Generale is committed to sustainable finance, aiming for €500 billion (about $582 billion) by 2030 through a strong trade-finance offering. This includes green products such as green bank guarantees and sustainability-linked facilities. Societe Generale is also the first French bank to receive a €500 million European Investment Bank counter-guarantee. The bank’s climate targets remain unchanged following the Net-Zero Banking Alliance shift.
Best Trade Finance Software Provider
CGI
The CGI Trade360 software-as-a-service platform maintains its industry leadership through continuous improvements and key integrations, including expanded API and ecosystem connectivity, enhanced intelligent process automation, and advanced capabilities in standby guarantees and receivables finance.
Patrick DeVilbiss, head of product for Trade and Supply Chain Solutions at CGI, highlights the significant advantage of a common application: “Even when an individual bank makes a standard investment—perhaps a small feature or functionality—they gain from the combined, often substantial, investments of the other 27 banks using the platform.” CGI manages all necessary compliance and regulatory requirements, providing a comprehensive solution. A key example is the recent integration with Barclays and Komgo.
DeVilbiss notes, “This integration was built once to be maintained by CGI, connecting to Komgo, a powerful multibank application, using CGI’s third-party connector.”
Best Trade-As-A-Service Solution
Surecomp
Surecomp dominates global trade-finance digitalization with the largest market share, leveraging the cloud-based Trade Finance-as-a-Service, which swiftly integrates the DOKA-NG back office with the RIVO corporate front end, making the solution accessible, affordable, and fast to deploy for banks worldwide, notably those expanding in Africa.
RIVO’s open API enables crucial fintech integrations—such as Finverity for extended liquidity, CRX Markets for optimized receivables/payables finance, and MineHub for secure supply chain traceability—extending financing and digital execution capabilities directly within the platform.
Key AI and automation-backed innovations, including AI-powered text validation for guarantees and LCs, cutting legal review time by 60%; AI-driven document checking for compliance, reducing turnaround time from hours to seconds; and enhanced operational speed and accuracy, while the RIVO-DOKA-NG API ensures real-time bank-corporate collaboration.
Best Bank For Trade Finance In Emerging Markets
Standard Chartered
“Our Transition Finance Framework, informed by [the International Energy Agency’s] Net Zero by 2050 scenarios, defines and governs transition finance, guiding clients toward a low-carbon pathway,” says Sofia Hammoucha, global head of Trade and Working Capital. It is updated annually based on the latest science and technological developments. We incorporate relevant industry principles and taxonomies, such as those for green, social, and sustainable finance.”
The 2025 framework, released in December, includes updates, notably to the shipping category. Adopted globally, the framework has differentiated expectations for emerging markets in its green and social categories. Sustainable finance assets are heavily concentrated (78%) in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
Best Bank For Trade Finance In Frontier Markets
Ecobank
Leveraging its 33-nation African network to facilitate crucial intra-African commerce, Ecobank acts as a Pan-African “bridge,” excelling in high-risk frontier markets. The bank offers a last-mile advantage through its physical presence and local expertise, utilizing large guarantee facilities from institutions like the International Finance Corporation and British International Investment to support SMEs and manage risk. A major strength is structured trade and commodity finance, using self-liquidating loans tied to the flow of commodities (e.g., cocoa and cotton) to manage risk from farm to buyer, essential in volatile legal environments.