WORLD'S BEST TREASURY PROVIDERS

Global Finance, Mar 2005 by Platt, Gordon

BEST BANK FOR LIQUIDITY/WORKING CAPITAL MANAGEMENT

NORTH AMERICA

Bank of America

Bank of America has improved working capital management by working closely with its customers on such issues as the availability of credit and the impact of innovation. The bank is the leading lender under programs of the Small Business Administration in the US and serves most of the country's large companies as well. It does business with 33 million consumers, including 11 million active online customers. It is one of the largest asset-based lenders. It provides companies with senior secured loans and a broad range of capital markets products.

WESTERN EUROPE

Deutsche Bank

Deutsche Bank provides regional liquidity management and electronic bill presentment and payment services throughout Western Europe. It offers pan-European check-processing through a strategic cooperation with Bottomline Technologies. Deutsche Bank's cash-management and payment services are aimed at both corporate and financial institution clients. The bank is a leader in technology and in product range.

ASIA

HSBC

HSBC s global Internet banking platform offers secure, real-time access to cash management solutions across Asia. The banks liquidity solutions take full account of clients' local needs as well as their global operations. It maintains treasury sales teams in each of the 20 countries in the region in which it has a presence and provides comprehensive support. It also conducts regular post-implementation surveys to ensure high levels of service.

LATIN AMERICA

Citigroup

Citigroup provides liquidity-management services that combine liquidity products with collection instruments. It improves working capital availability through innovative payables and receivables services used by more than 1,100 clients in Latin America. Average monthly volume is more than 1 million transactions. The bank provides online real-time reporting with a high level of security for 23 countries in Latin America.

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE

RZB

RZB's global treasury and markets division is one of the bank's most profitable core businesses. With a network of 17 dealing units, the bank offers customized solutions for its customers' currency and interest-rate-driven exposures. It communicates regularly with its clients to gather all the relevant facts necessary to evaluate each customer's specific needs and to create a risk profile. RZB offers quality service based on international capabilities, speed and flexibility. Financial institutions are major users of RZB's treasury products.

MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA

National Bank of Kuwait

When Iraqi subcontractors of US-based Bechtel were having difficulty cashing Bechtel-issued checks because of a lack of local banking services, National Bank of Kuwait came up with a solution. NBK provided for the electronic transfer of funds, per Bechtel's instructions, into specific bank accounts at Credit Bank of Iraq and Bank of Baghdad. The arrangement reduced the need for excessive cash payments. NBK, the largest bank in Kuwait, offers online corporate banking services, including overdraft facilities, money market products, guarantees and foreign exchange services.