Export-Import Bank

If exporting is part of your business game plan, theExport-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) can be yourbiggest ally. The Ex-Im Bank is committed to supporting smallexporters and provides many financing tools targeted to smallbusinesses, such as working capital guarantees and export creditinsurance. It also guarantees repayment of loans or makes loans toforeign purchasers of U.S. goods and services and offers U.S.exporters credit insurance to protect against nonpayment by foreignbuyers. Since 1934, the Ex-Im Bank has helped finance overseassales of more than $300 billion in U.S. goods and services.

With a working capital guarantee and credit insurance, smallbusinesses can increase sales by entering new markets, expandingtheir borrowing base, and offering buyers financing while carryingless risk. Often, small exporters don’t have adequate cash flow orcan’t get a loan to fulfill an export sales order. The Ex-Im Bankworking capital guarantee assumes 90 percent of the lender’s riskso exporters can access the necessary funds to purchase rawmaterials or supplies to fulfill an export order.

The export credit insurance protects an exporter from buyerpayment default and also allows exporters to extend credit to theirinternational buyers.

To be eligible for the Ex-Im Bank’s programs, U.S. exportersmuch simply meet the SBA’s definition of a small business and haveexport credit sales of less than $5 million. In addition, yourproduct or service must have at least 50 percent U.S. content. Thebank will finance the export of all types of goods or servicesexcept for most military-related products.

Business owners can contact the Ex-Im Bank directly at (800)565-3946 or through any commercial lender that works with theagency (see the Lender Locator at www.exim.gov). Based in Washington, DC,the Ex-Im Bank also has regional offices in Chicago, Houston,Miami, New York City, and Long Beach and San Jose, California.