GTR is pleased to reveal the shortlisted nominees for the 2026 Leaders in Trade awards, recognising the banks, fintechs and industry players shaping the global trade finance landscape.
Drawn from submissions across regions and sectors, the shortlist highlights institutions demonstrating innovation, market leadership and impact over the past year.
Winners will be selected with input from GTR’s advisory panel and announced at the GTR Charity Awards Dinner in London on June 25.
Thanks to everyone who sent in a submission, and congratulations to the nominees!
Regional awards
Best trade finance bank in East Africa
Shortlisted nominees: Equity Bank (Kenya), Mauritius Commercial Bank, Standard Chartered
Best trade finance bank in West Africa
Shortlisted nominees: Ecobank, First Bank of Nigeria, Stanbic IBTC, Zenith Bank UK
Best trade finance bank in Southern Africa
Shortlisted nominees: Nedbank, Rand Merchant Bank, Standard Bank
Best trade finance bank in North Africa
Shortlisted nominees: BACB, National Bank of Egypt
Best trade finance bank in the Middle East
Shortlisted nominees: Arab Bank, Commercial Bank of Dubai, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Rakbank, Standard Chartered
Best trade finance bank in the Americas
Shortlisted nominees: BNY, Scotiabank, TD Securities
Best trade finance bank in Asia
Shortlisted nominees: Bank of America, DBS, HSBC, Mizuho, SMBC
Best trade finance bank in Western Europe
Shortlisted nominees: BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole CIB
Best trade finance bank in the UK
Shortlisted nominees: Barclays, Lloyds Bank, NatWest
Global awards: Other industry players
Best trade or supply chain finance law firm
Shortlisted nominees: A&O Shearman, Norton Rose Fulbright, Sullivan & Worcester
Best export finance law firm
Shortlisted nominees: Norton Rose Fulbright, Sullivan & Worcester
Best trade & supply chain platform*
Platforms used directly by corporates to access working capital, receivables finance or supplier finance programmes, typically connecting corporates with banks and investors
Shortlisted nominees: CredAble, Finverity, Orbian, PrimeRevenue, SAP Taulia
Best trade technology provider*
Technology providers used by banks or insurers to process and manage trade finance transactions and trade operations
Shortlisted nominees: CGI, China Systems, LiquidX, Premium Technology, Surecomp
Best trade finance & automation fintech*
Fintech solutions helping banks or corporates automate trade finance workflows, document checking, analytics and transaction monitoring
Shortlisted nominees: Cleareye, Digital Vault Services, Mitigram, Monetago, Traydstream
Best fintech enabling digital trade*
Companies enabling digital trade documentation and connectivity across the trade ecosystem (for example, electronic bills of lading and digital transferable records)
Shortlisted nominees: CargoX, WaveBL
Best early-stage trade fintech innovator*
Early-stage companies developing new digital trade or trade finance infrastructure with emerging market adoption
Shortlisted nominees: ETR Digital, IBDIC (Indian Banks’ Digital Infrastructure Company), Paper Trader, Qualco
Best non-bank trade finance provider (including trade finance funds)
Shortlisted nominees: Alteia, Ebury, India Factoring, Pelorus Capital
Best trade credit insurance broker
Shortlisted nominees: Aon, BPL, WTW
Best political risk insurance broker
Shortlisted nominees: Aon, WTW
Best trade credit and political risk insurance underwriter
Shortlisted nominees: Coming soon
Global awards: Banks
Best development bank
Shortlisted nominees: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Finance Corporation, International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation
Best bank for ESG
Shortlisted nominees: Barclays, BNP Paribas, DBS, Nedbank
Best bank for digitalisation
Shortlisted nominees: BNP Paribas, Citi, DBS, Lloyds Bank
Best supply chain finance bank
Shortlisted nominees: Bank of America, Citi, Crédit Agricole CIB, MUFG, Santander
Best commodity trade finance bank
Shortlisted nominees: MUFG, SMBC, Société Générale
Best export finance bank
Shortlisted nominees: Bank of America, BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank, Santander, Standard Chartered
Best trade finance bank
Shortlisted nominees: Bank of America, Citi, Crédit Agricole CIB, Santander
*Categories and nominee allocations adjusted by the GTR editorial team and awards judging panel to reflect market realities and the nature of the businesses and activities represented.
