Over the past four years, supply chain finance (SCF) has emerged as a significant growth area for global banks. As corporations became more concerned about maximising working capital and ensuring the survival of their suppliers during the financial crisis, interest in this area has steadily increased, with some banks reporting that the number of transactions has doubled in the past year.
Indeed, a 2011 research report by working capital solutions provider Demica found that more than 80% of European banks are putting “very significant“ efforts into promoting their SCF offerings. Rob Stigall, director for global trade and supply chain solutions at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, confirms that this remains a key area of focus: “Most definitely, supply chain finance is rapidly becoming a primary growth engine. The opportunity for growth is tremendous.”
