DBS accelerates trade digitalisation efforts with more ‘industry-firsts’ to drive greater efficiencies for customers
Singapore, 02 Mar 2020 - To drive greater efficiencies in trade, DBS Bank has closed another ‘industry-first’ with the completion of the first trade financing settlement through through vCargo Cloud’s CamelONE Trade Finance portal (TFP) – with another two transactions slated to close this week. The inaugural transaction relates to an SGD 4.8 million letter of credit
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transaction by homegrown steel wholesaler and supplier, Super Steel Pte Ltd.
As Singapore’s first unified multi-bank portal connected to the Networked Trade Platform (NTP) to aggregate trade financing products, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) like Super Steel are now able to conveniently apply for an array of trade finance solutions through the TFP. More importantly, by providing a standardised application form, the TFP eliminates the hassle of having to navigate through different banks’ sites, resulting in quicker application times and reduced human errors. This, in turn, helps enhance efficiency and productivity for both large corporates and SMEs seeking access to trade financing, and for banks to provide the service more efficiently. In addition, the information and data submitted for other trade purposes on the NTP, such as permit declaration, freight booking and cargo insurance can also be used to supplement corporates’ digital trade applications to banks – maximising digital data reuse.
Sriram Muthukrishnan, Group Head of Trade Product Management, DBS Bank, said, “Trade finance is the lifeblood of commerce but can sometimes be quite manual and complex. By digitalising trade financing services via a one-stop portal, we are able to provide swift, easy and contact-free financing solutions to help our customers enjoy greater peace of mind when it comes to managing their banking needs. This is especially critical now as prolonged geopolitical tensions and trade frictions, along with Covid-19 concerns, have disrupted global and Asian supply chains, affecting the cash flows of many businesses in Singapore and the region.”
As part of the bank’s efforts to digitalise trade across all fronts, DBS has also completed its first electronic banker’s guarantee
[2]
issuance on the newly-launched Singapore Customs Electronic Bank Guarantee Programme (eBG programme). The transaction relates to a SGD 49,000 transaction by leading automotive group, Komoco Holdings (Komoco). Launched today, the eBG programme was developed as part of efforts to enhance the banker’s guarantee lodgement process which tends to be highly manual and time intensive. For example, before the launch of the eBG programme, corporates will need to physically deliver the original hard copy of the banker’s guarantee to the Singapore Customs (Customs). But today, DBS is now able to help our corporate customers send their banker’s guarantee directly to the Customs, and concurrently digitally share data from the banker’s guarantee in real-time through the NTP. This helps cut short the banker’s guarantee issuance and submission process to the Customs from an average of three to four working days, to less than 24 hours.
Accelerating trade digitalisation across multiple fronts
Apart from driving trade digitalisation efforts externally, DBS has also looked within the bank to provide inhouse solutions to enhance support for its corporate customers. As part of broader relief measures, DBS has recently launched the service where all corporate customers can now upload their supporting trade documents onto the bank’s corporate banking platform, DBS IDEAL. This means that customers will be able to submit trade financing applications online, as well as digitally upload and reload any required documents such as trade contracts, invoices, customs declarations and purchase orders. These applications were previously mainly done physically at trade counters or at bank branches. Customers will also be able to get instant notifications of their application status through email and SMS.
For more information on DBS’ recent relief measures for businesses across the region, please visit the following links:
DBS rolls out digital solutions to give businesses "Contact-free" banking options for greater peace of mind during Covid-19
DBS to offer broad range of Covid-19 liquidity relief measures for SME and retail clients
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A letter of credit is the Issuing Bank’s payment undertaking against the presentation of complying documents.
[2]
A banker’s guarantee is a guarantee from a bank, usually issued on behalf of a company, and represents the bank’s irrevocable obligation to make payment, when a claim is made by the beneficiary named in the guarantee. The bank will only ensure that the claim complies with the guarantee terms before it makes payment. A claim is normally triggered by the beneficiary when the company fails in its performance under the contract for which the banker’s guarantee is issued.
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About DBS
DBS is a leading financial services group in Asia with a presence in 18 markets. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, DBS is in the three key Asian axes of growth: Greater China, Southeast Asia and South Asia. The bank's "AA-" and "Aa1" credit ratings are among the highest in the world.
Recognised for its global leadership, DBS has been named “
World’s Best Bank
” by Euromoney, “
Global Bank of the Year
” by The Banker and “
Best Bank in the World
” by Global Finance. The bank is at the forefront of leveraging digital technology to shape the future of banking, having been named “
World’s Best Digital Bank
” by Euromoney. In addition, DBS has been accorded the “
Safest Bank in Asia
” award by Global Finance for 11 consecutive years from 2009 to 2019.
DBS provides a full range of services in consumer, SME and corporate banking. As a bank born and bred in Asia, DBS understands the intricacies of doing business in the region’s most dynamic markets. DBS is committed to building lasting relationships with customers, and positively impacting communities through supporting social enterprises, as it banks the Asian way. It has also established a SGD 50 million foundation to strengthen its corporate social responsibility efforts in Singapore and across Asia.
With its extensive network of operations in Asia and emphasis on engaging and empowering its staff, DBS presents exciting career opportunities. The bank acknowledges the passion, commitment and can-do spirit in all of our 28,000 staff, representing over 40 nationalities. For more information, please visit
www.dbs.com
.
DBS Bank Ltd | 12 Marina Boulevard, DBS Asia Central @ Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 3,
Singapore 018982 | Co. Reg. No. 196800306E
Tel: 65.6878 8888 | www.dbs.com
