BankWest has announced the appointment of experienced trade finance manager Craig Jensen as Senior Manager, International Trade Banking Victoria, signaling its intention to accelerate the growth of its trade finance business in Victoria.
Mr. Jensen has extensive experience in banking and international trade having held positions with NAB, Bank One NA and CBA over a 20 year period. Mr Jensen has also held the position of State Manager, Victoria for the Export Finance and Insurance Corp (EFIC) and Atradius.
BankWest Head of Deposits and Transactional Services Shane O'Connor said the position was a newly created role which would allow BankWest to focus strongly on the Victorian trade finance market.
"Mr. Jensen is a highly experienced banker and trade finance specialist. His appointment gives us capacity to focus on driving the growth of our business in Victoria, and provide import and export finance solutions to our expanding base of commercial banking clients," Mr. O'Connor said.
An East & Partners' Australian SME Banking Markets Report conducted in October 2006 confirmed that 26.9% of SMEs are involved in importing or exporting, with almost 60% conducting trade transactions with their primary bank.
"Victoria is a key market for us and since December 2005, the Corporate and Banking Division has grown its balance sheet by more than 100%," he said.
"Nationally, Victoria accounts for approximately 13 per cent of Australia's export business and in the 2006 calendar year, exported $21.5 billion worth of merchandise goods. Victoria's imports of goods were valued at $49.9 billion, accounting for 28 per cent of the national total," Mr O'Connor said.
Mr. Jensen said he was delighted to join BankWest at such an exciting point in its growth. In 2006 BankWest grew both its commercial lending and deposits books by more than 40 per cent and in announcing the 2006 HBOS Australia financial results, CEO David Willis said the bank will accelerate its growth in 2007.
"BankWest is a relative newcomer to the national market, determined to grow its business by doing things differently and really focusing on the customer and this is clearly an exciting time to join the organisation," Mr. Jensen said.
"Trade finance is an increasing focus for BankWest and I am looking forward to spearheading that for Victoria. Following the recent announcement of the launch of Online International Trade, BankWest has increased trade products and service offering to customers," Mr. Jensen said.
"There is a strong focus on developing specialised expertise internally to service clients so we can give them solutions that are really tailored to their needs and I am personally highly motivated by that opportunity. I am looking forward to helping Victorian export clients grow their business by developing better payment solutions and understanding and managing their risks better."
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About BankWest Business
BankWest Business provides a full range of core and specialist business banking products and services to all business market segments from small business to large corporates. From market leading transaction and investment accounts through to flexible business loans and sophisticated Financial Market and International Trade products, we are an organisation committed to making a meaningful difference in the financial services marketplace with our simple and straightforward products. Our energetic approach and attitude aims to reject the status quo and present a significant challenge to the conventions and the competition.
BankWest Business has a presence in capital cities, rural areas and regional locations throughout Australia. We focus on key markets including Property Finance, Small Business, Commercial, Rural and Regional and Corporate.
We also offer a flexible range of products and competitive lending guidelines across specialist industries such as Aged Care, Childcare, Hotels/Accommodation, Franchise and Pharmacy. We recognise the value of the going concern of a business, along with the value of its people and brand, not just its fixed assets or balance sheet.
Our business banking managers have been selected for their industry knowledge and experience and take the time to get to know their customers' business to find the best products and services to meet their needs.
BankWest has been around for more than 100 years and is now part of the HBOS Australia group with assets of over $50 billion. Backed by our parent company HBOS plc, one of the world's largest financial services groups, we are providing a fresh customer experience and challenging the Australian market. BankWest is the fastest growing business bank in Australia*, and because we are growing, we will try harder to help grow your business.
For further queries please contact:
Natalie Causley
Media Relations Manager
HBOS Australia Corporate Affairs
Office: + 61 2 8299 8261
Mobile: 0400 241 663
Email: natalie.causley@hbosa.com.au
