Supporting American manufacturers and exporters is more important than ever as the U.S. sharpens its focus on rebuilding domestic industry and reclaiming its position as a global leader in production and innovation. With the current administration’s focus on strengthening domestic industry and restoring America’s role as a global supplier of goods and innovation, the time is right for businesses to reimagine their working capital strategy—especially those with a global reach.
Financing Headwinds: A Post-Pandemic Challenge
Since the onset of the pandemic, approval rates on loans, lines of credit, and traditional lending have steadily declined. Today’s economic environment presents real challenges for both banks and their clients. The shift in priority away from lending toward deposit generation has left many businesses without access to critical financing options.
The pressure is especially high for exporters. Rising interest rates and an uncertain economic outlook make working capital more difficult to secure—particularly for businesses engaging in international trade. For banks and private lenders, financing exporters carries heightened risk due to unpredictable global markets.
Gaps in Access to Supply Chain Finance
Many U.S. exporters are shut out of traditional Supply Chain Finance (SCF) programs due to low or no credit ratings. Even when access is available, high costs can deter participation, weaken supplier resiliency, and ultimately threaten the success of the overall supply chain strategy.
EXIM’s Solution: A Decade of Support for U.S. Exporters
Despite these headwinds, exporters do have options. For over a decade, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) has played a crucial role in supporting U.S. exporters and domestic suppliers through its Supply Chain Finance Guarantee Program.
When private lenders are unable or unwilling to extend financing to exporters, EXIM steps in to bridge the gap. Backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, EXIM assumes credit risks that private institutions often cannot. This enables lenders to confidently support supply chain finance programs for U.S. companies—driving economic growth, preserving jobs, and advancing the “Made in America” movement.
Through the SCF Guarantee, EXIM provides a 90% guarantee to lenders who fund SCF programs for exporters. This significantly reduces lender risk, making capital more accessible to a wider range of U.S. companies.
“The guarantee is the best of both worlds,” said Miguel Serricchio, SVP of Channel Development at eCapital. “Buyers and suppliers get the working capital they need while lenders gain peace of mind. In the end, it leads to a much stronger supply chain, protects U.S. jobs, and strengthens the funding relationship.”
“Since the onset of the pandemic, EXIM has stepped in to fill the gap left by limited private sector lending capacity,” added Smaro Karakatsanis, Acting Vice President, Business Credit Division at EXIM. “Our support has enabled exporters to ensure their suppliers have access to the capital they need—especially small businesses that may not have qualified for traditional credit facilities.”
Key Benefits of EXIM’s Supply Chain Finance Guarantee
- Enables SCF programs for non-investment grade companies
- Supports broader underwriting by reducing credit risk exposure
- Lowers SCF capital costs while increasing funding availability
- Reinforces U.S. economic goals by helping domestic suppliers thrive
- Advances the “Made in America” agenda by supporting U.S.-based production and jobs
Program Eligibility
To participate in an EXIM Supply Chain Finance Guarantee program, exporters must meet the following criteria:
- Be domiciled in the United States
- Produce goods in and export from the U.S. Also includes U.S. entities selling to other U.S. entities who then export the goods.
- Certify that export products contain more than 50% U.S. content
- Source inputs primarily from S.-based suppliers
eCapital + EXIM: Delivering Scalable SCF Solutions
As an EXIM-approved lender and technology platform provider, eCapital offers deep expertise in structuring and administering SCF programs backed by the EXIM guarantee. Together, we help exporters expand access, lower costs, and optimize working capital throughout the supply chain.
How SCF Works with eCapital FastTrack and the EXIM Guarantee
- Buyer purchases goods/services from a U.S. supplier
- Supplier ships goods and invoices the buyer
- Buyer approves invoice and uploads it to eCapital FastTrack
- Supplier selects invoices for early payment or waits for full payment at maturity
- Buyer repays lender according to agreed-upon terms
Empowering American Exports
As the world looks to strengthen supply chains, the U.S. is leading with innovation, resilience, and reliability. Through the EXIM-backed SCF program, we empower American companies to compete globally while investing in domestic growth.
Ready to explore how SCF can support your export strategy?
Contact Miguel Serricchio to learn how eCapital and EXIM can help your business unlock new markets—and help your suppliers grow stronger at home.
ABOUT eCapital
At eCapital, we accelerate business growth by delivering fast, flexible access to capital through cutting-edge technology and deep industry insight.
Across North America and the U.K., we’ve redefined how small and medium-sized businesses access funding—eliminating friction, speeding approvals, and empowering clients with access to the capital they need to move forward. With the capacity to fund facilities from $5 million to $250 million, we support a wide range of business needs at every stage.
With a powerful blend of innovation, scalability, and personalized service, we’re not just a funding provider, we’re a strategic partner built for what’s next.
