How to Obtain Export Financing

Here are some places to start when you're seeking export financing:
A lender who regularly handles international transactions. For a free list, call the Export-Import Bank, in Washington, D.C., at (202) 566-4490, or check with the Small Business Administration, (202) 205-6720, or your state's export office.

State export finance offices offer state-backed loan guarantees, direct loans, and export credit insurance.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provides a variety of finance services for exporters. Among them are its international trade loan program; the export working-capital guarantee program, which provides short-term financing for individual, self-liquidating transactions; and the 7(a) business loan-guarantee program for medium-term working capital and long-term, fixed-asset financing. For further information, or for a free copy of the SBA's new booklet on export finance, Bankable Deals, call (202) 205-6720 or your local SBA office.

The Export-Import Bank, an independent federal agency, offers a working-capital guarantee program that covers 100 percent of the amount of a commercial loan. The agency also offers an export credit insurance program to protect exporters in case a foreign buyer defaults on a payment for a purchase. In addition, 30 state governments participate in Ex-Im Bank's City/State Program, which helps businesses apply for loans and provides finance counseling.