Global Finance is proud to announce the winners of the Best Trade Finance Banks for 2026.

This year’s recipients—Standard Bank, DBS, Banreservas, Raiffeisen Bank International, BBVA, Bank ABC, BNY Mellon, and UniCredit—distinguished themselves by leveraging innovative digital platforms, expanding global and regional connectivity, and developing specialized solutions to navigate increasingly complex trade environments. From supporting key economic corridors in Asia-Pacific to pioneering sustainable finance across Africa and the CEE, these institutions are setting the standard for efficiency, compliance, and client service in the global trade ecosystem.

Best Trade Finance Bank in Africa

Standard Bank

Standard Bank CIB has earned the Best Trade Finance Bank in Africa award through its blend of expansive continental reach, strategic global partnerships, and market-leading digital innovation.

The bank has a robust presence across Africa, supported by an expansive global footprint and a strategic partnership with China’s ICBC, connecting African trade seamlessly with global markets.

The bank supported over 9,000+ trade finance clients in 2025, with revenues growing 9% year-on-year. Key innovations include the TradeOnline Platform, a unified digital channel for initiating and tracking transactions 24/7, with draft automation and pan-African rollout to over 800 clients.

Standard Bank pioneered AI-powered document checking in West Africa through a Traydstream partnership, reducing processing times from days to two hours.

Ecosystem integration, such as the DP World partnership, connects the bank to global logistics data for rapid lending, while API connectivity enhances due diligence.

Supply chain finance innovation includes an in-house payables financing portal for rapid supplier early payment, supporting SMEs. The OneHub corporate portal unifies access to all digital channels.

Finally, the bank is a first-to-market leader in ESG-linked trade products and Green Finance, with pricing tied to ESG performance, and is actively exploring blockchain for future solutions.