East & Partner’s latest Trade Finance Markets report has revealed that over half of Corporate trade finance customers have been with their primary trade banker for less than two years and no segment has an account life of more than 10 years.The majority of both Institutional and SME customers have had a primary
relationship with their primary trade bank for between 3 and 5 years, with 45.3
percent of Institutional customers and 59 percent of SME customers falling into
this time bracket. 52.1 percent of corporate trade customers however have only
been with their primary trade banker for less than 2 years.
This most recent East & Partners analysis shows that no customer, in any segment
has reported an account life of 10 or more years since 2009.
Nevertheless, trade financier relationships appear relatively “safe” for the
time being with all three segments being either unlikely to or having definitely
no plans to switch from their principal current trade banker.
Amy Nixon, East & Partners’ Head of Client Services commented, “The most
important key service factors rated by Institutional, Corporate and SME segments
are Customer service and the Banks Trade Account Officer. These factors play a
substantial role in securing future business and decreasing churn with the banks
having improved performance on these key factors and customers at the same time
willing to lower expectations as they head cautiously into the future both
contributing. The level of secondary trade financier is correspondingly
declining as well, although East is expecting engagement of secondary providers
likely to return heading into 2012”.
“For Corporate and SME businesses Value for Money is the key service factor in
Trade Finance whereas Institutional businesses are more concerned with value
propositions and delivery around Global Representation, Risk Advice and
Management, Professional Competence, and e-Trade Solutions,” added Ms Nixon.
About East & Partners’ Australian Trade Finance Markets report
Six monthly research sweep across the Top 500 institutional (annual turnover
A$530+ million), corporate (A$20-530 million annual turnover) and SME (A$5 to 20
million annual turnover) markets with approximately 1,150 interviewed
enterprises.
Market analytics include market share, share of wallet, product penetration,
export/import regions, supplier share of mind and life of service relationship
metrics. Customer analytics including bank-by-bank satisfaction performance on
key TF related factors, buying and churn behaviour.
Market Segments:
– Institutional – A$530 million plus
– Corporate – A$20-530 million
– SME – A$1-20 million
For more information or to interview East & Partners, please contact:
Sian Dowling
Marcomms & Client Services
East & Partners
t: 02 9004 7848
m: 0420 583 553
e: sian.d@eastandpartners.com