JEDDAH – The Saudi British Bank (SABB) has once again been named by Global Finance magazine as the “Best Trade Finance Bank” in Saudi Arabia for 2013. This is the 5th consecutive year that SABB has picked up this coveted award, widely acknowledging SABB as the preeminent trade finance bank in the Kingdom. Whilst the award is for 2013, it is based on performance during 2012. The recognition from Global Finance magazine comes after an assessment of transaction volumes, scope of global coverage, customer service, competitive pricing and innovation of the leading trade finance providers in the Kingdom. This year, to increase the accuracy and reliability of results, Global Finance further enhanced their assessment by including a poll of key decision makers in multinational companies globally, alongside traditional input from industry analysts, corporate executives and technology experts. In 2012, SABB continued its focus on client service, product innovation, and the development of trade opportunities for clients. During the year, SABB successfully rolled out a number of key initiatives directed towards helping its clients grow their trade related businesses. These included enhancing its trade corridors initiatives with key trade partners of KSA (including India and Turkey); continued education of Saudi customers on emerging trends and risks associated with international trade through its “Trade Academy” and “Trade Confidence Index” initiatives; various customer engagements and thought leadership events with participation from key industry experts including representation from the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC); extension of its product suite and services; further expansion of risk participation arrangements through Export Credit Agencies (ECA's) and other partner banks; and continued provision of renminbi (RMB) trade related capabilities, where it remains the leading bank in the Kingdom. SABB offers an unrivalled global connectivity through its association with HSBC Group, as well as a range of sophisticated and customized conventional and Shariah-compliant trade finance solutions to meet growing trade and supply chain needs of its clients. The award comes to highlight the continued focus on customer service and experience while showcasing the innovative and customized solutions provided for the increasingly diverse, challenging and complex client expectations in the Saudi market. — SG
