How African Importers and Exporters Are Securing Trade Finance Without Local Bank Support
How African Importers and Exporters Are Securing Trade Finance Without Local Bank Support
How African Importers and Exporters Are Securing Trade Finance Without Local Bank Support
Can’t get your local bank to issue or confirm a Letter of Credit? You’re not alone — and you’re not stuck. Here’s how African operators are closing international trade deals without relying on domestic banks.
African trade is growing — but most local banks aren’t keeping up. Importers can’t get timely LCs. Exporters struggle to secure confirmation. And trade corridors worth millions are slowed down or canceled because no one wants to take on payment risk.
At Financely, we solve that problem. We help African businesses access global trade finance infrastructure
— without waiting for their bank to say yes.
The Problem: Local Banks Are the Bottleneck
You’ve probably dealt with it already:
LC applications that take 3–4 weeks to review
Requests denied due to jurisdiction or lack of offshore risk appetite
Manual paperwork, unclear timelines, and zero transparency
This doesn’t work when you’re trying to close a $1.2M agro shipment to Europe or import industrial equipment on tight terms. Your supplier needs an LC. Your buyer wants delivery. And your bank wants a committee meeting.
The Solution: Use a Global SPV and Financely’s Issuer Network
Financely sets up a special-purpose vehicle (SPV) for your transaction in a favorable jurisdiction — such as the UAE, UK, or Singapore — and handles:
Deal structuring(matching your timeline and buyer/seller terms)
Routing to global LC desks
that issue through banks in our network
You don’t need to open an account. You don’t need to fly out. You send the contract, and we do the rest. The LC gets issued — and the deal moves forward.
Who This Works For
Importers:
Bringing in raw materials, equipment, or components on deferred payment terms
Exporters:
Needing a confirmed LC to ship goods without payment risk
Trading companies:
Handling back-to-back or multi-country transactions where local banks say no
Real-World Example
A Ghanaian importer needed a $1.5M UPAS LC to secure equipment from China. Their bank quoted a 4-week processing time with no guarantee of approval. We structured the deal through a Dubai SPV, routed it to a private LC desk in Europe, and had the instrument issued in 72 hours. Supplier got paid. Deal executed. Everyone moved on.
Why This Works
SPVs are trusted by international banks
— they remove jurisdiction risk
We underwrite your deal internally
— so we don’t submit weak files
Issuing banks in our network know our process
— and respond fast
Need Trade Finance Without Your Local Bank?
We help African importers and exporters get deals funded using SPVs and real issuing banks — without the red tape. Submit your deal and we’ll take care of the structure, pricing, and execution.
Trade Finance Without Borders — That’s How We Work
At Financely, we help African importers and exporters close international trade deals by giving them access to top-tier LC issuance and structuring through global platforms. No banking relationship? No problem. We’ll build you the structure, get the instrument issued, and help you move faster than your bank ever could.
Submit Your Deal & Receive a Proposal Within 1-3 Working Days
Submit your deal using oursecure intake form, and receive a quotewithin 1-3 business days. Existing clients can connect with theirrelationship managerthrough oursecure web portal.
All submissions arepromptly reviewed, and all communications are conducted through the intake form or the client portal for a seamless and secure process.
Thank you for considering working with us. A nominal fee of US$500
is required upon completion of each form. This fee covers the time and effort we invest in reviewing
your submission and crafting a thorough proposal. We receive numerous inquiries and prioritize those
that carry this fee, ensuring serious applicants receive prompt attention.
Trade Finance
Tap into solutions like letters of credit, bank guarantees, and payment facilitation. We address
the challenge of global transaction risk through structured strategies that foster cross-border
growth. Complete the form to unlock streamlined funding aligned with your commercial objectives.
Access non-recourse funding for infrastructure, renewable energy, or other capital-intensive
ventures. We mitigate capital constraints by isolating project assets and focusing on risk
management. Provide your details to receive a structure that drives growth and maximizes returns.
Secure financing for business or real estate acquisitions. We ease transaction hurdles by
reviewing cash flow, synergy opportunities, and exit plans. Complete the form for a customized
proposal that supports your strategic investment objectives.
Financely assists banks facing Basel III pressures by distributing trade finance deals and
providing collateral for letters of credit. We reduce capital burdens while preserving client
relationships and fostering service expansion. Submit your request to optimize your trade finance
offerings.
Once we receive your submission, our team will review your information to determine feasibility. If
eligible, you will receive a proposal or term sheet within 1–3 business days. Visit our FAQ
and Procedure
pages for more information.
Disclaimer:
Financely provides financing based on due diligence and feasibility.
Approval is not guaranteed, and past performance does not predict future outcomes. All terms are
subject to review. Financely primarily assists with structuring and distribution. Qualified parties
carry out the project if the client approves the proposal.
Still Have Questions? Schedule a Consultation
If you still have questions after visiting ourFAQandProcedurepages, we invite you to book a paid consultation for personalized guidance. A $250 USD fee applies per session.
Important Resources
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About Financely
Financely advises growth-focused businesses on accessing capital by introducing their opportunities to professional investors. Financely is not a securities broker or dealer. Where appropriate, engagements are coordinated with regulated broker-dealers, investment banks, legal counsel, and other specialists.
Financely does not solicit, offer, or accept orders to buy or sell securities and makes no assurance regarding capital-raising outcomes.
Services are strictly business-to-business. Financely does not provide personal finance, consumer credit, or retail advisory services.
Advisory services are reserved for post-revenue companies that recognize the time and resources required for professional underwriting.
All mandates start with an RFQ. We review submissions, issue a brief Go/No-Go memo, and where bankable, release a Term Sheet that leads to funding. We arrange capital across Senior Secured, Unitranche, Second Lien/Mezzanine, Preferred Equity, and Gap Solutions. We do not process deals by email or chat.
Trade Finance
Letters of Credit, Standby LCs, Confirmations, Receivables Finance, and Inventory Lines with control.
LCs and Confirmations
SBLC and Guarantees
AR/AP and Supply Chain
Funding arranged for trade flows with instruments sized to your cycle and aligned to delivery and settlement.
Move forward to secure working capital and keep goods moving. Submit the RFQ to start underwriting for funding.
KYC and Source of Funds required. Engagements are best-efforts and subject to underwriting. Preference for operating companies with meaningful revenue.
See our FAQ
and Procedure.
Financely Inc. (“Financely”) provides corporate-finance advice and is wholly owned by Aurora Bay Trust, a trust formed under Bahamian law, together with its authorized affiliates. Depending on deal structure, jurisdiction, and local rules, engagement may be carried out through Financely Group LLC, a non-deposit-taking non-banking financial company; Ashford Capital Advisory LLC; or another related entity. Financely and its affiliates are not registered as securities broker-dealers. When a mandate involves the purchase or sale of securities and a registered intermediary is required, all orders are introduced to and executed by a U.S. broker-dealer registered with the SEC and FINRA, acting as “chaperone” under SEC Rule 15a-6 (17 C.F.R. § 240.15a-6). Nothing here constitutes an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to buy or sell any security. Before proceeding, read our Terms of Service to confirm that engaging Financely Group LLC, Ashford Capital Advisory LLC, or any affiliate aligns with your legal and regulatory requirements.In the United States, we operate as anexempt foreign private adviserpursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, subject to applicable exemptions from certain regulatory requirements. Our services and regulatory status may vary based on the location and nature of the transaction. Clickhereto download our brochure.