New York, NY – HSBC Bank USA is adding $3 billion more to its international loan program, raising the program’s total funding to $5 billion, as “the demand by US small and medium size businesses looking to export or expand internationally continues to rise.”

The funding increase is the third in 15 months and will “satisfy the demand by companies who want financing to grow and compete,” said Steve Bottomley, group general manager, senior executive vice president and head of Commercial Banking for HSBC in North America.

In 2013, US exports hit an all-time record of $2.3 trillion and supported 11.3 million US jobs, directly and indirectly, according to data supplied by the US International Trade Administration.

The latest HSBC Global Connections Trade report shows that developing economies, such as China and India, present the best US trade prospects, with US export growth to average nine percent a year to each country through 2030.

Additionally, global trade is expected to grow annually by eight percent beginning in 2016 from 2.5 percent in 2013, as businesses capitalize on the rise of the emerging market consumer and developing markets stabilize their productivity levels for the future.

“US small- and medium-size businesses are key contributors to US exports and domestic job growth,” said Derrick Ragland, HSBC executive vice president and head of US Middle Market Corporate Banking.

HSBC launched its international loan program for US small and medium size businesses seeking to export or expand internationally in July 2013with $1 billion in funding.

It doubled the program to $2 billion at the start of 2014, and today’s addition of $3 billion more raises the program’s total funding to $5 billion.

The international loan program is available to businesses with at least $3 million to $500 million in annual revenue, and who are focused on cross border trading or global expansion.

Only applications for new business loans will be accepted and all of HSBC’s usual credit and lending criteria apply. The program runs through December 2015.

International trade and financing, said Bottomley, “is critical not only for U.S. companies who want to excel, but also for the wider US economy.”

Since launching the program last year, “We’ve been impressed by the pace with which businesses around the country and across industries have taken advantage of the program to capture international growth market opportunities.”

10/09/2014