www.thebenche.com is a dynamic web based internet community open for all Trade Finance professionals and others active in international trade. The Benche offers a unique opportunity to gather and share knowledge and experience, and discuss and network amongst professionals.
"In order to have an international business it requires extensive work to collect information about the country, the region and its trade conventions. This is for many companies both costly and time consuming," said Lars Millberg, Global Head of Trade Finance. "With the Benche, we want to facilitate that process for companies within and outside of Sweden. A customer survey conducted by Mantaray on SEB's behalf shows that half of the respondents were willing to share information with others within a community."
At the Benche the members can discuss online for example how to best open a Letter of Credit (L/C) from Singapore, or payment terms in Kenya. Apart from member posted facts and discussion threads The Benche also holds public information and news, as well as possibilities for the members to quickly and simply expand their professional networks and then create new business contacts.
SEB will include part of its customer support on the Benche by frequently publishing a FAQ, as well as an "Ask the Experts" section where the members can get expert answers to their questions.
As a universal bank in northern Europe, SEB has a unique and natural customer base of large and smaller companies with interest in import and export. A selection of these customers has also assisted SEB in building up the Benche.
View the film on how the Benche works |
