Bank Relationships

Corporate Treasury & FX in Egypt

Report date: 
29 Oct 2024

To read this commentary please Register or Log In.

CXC reports are based on confidential peer discussions between senior corporate treasurers sharing their solutions to complex treasury challenges.

Our commentaries, comprising the key findings from the reports are FREE - simply register to access 150+ commentaries and receive new commentaries direct to your inbox.

Our reports are packed with practical, experience based learning allowing users to benchmark their operations and identify proven, actionable efficiencies - please get in touch for details.

Topics covered in this report: 
Bank Relationships, FX, Hedging FX, Letters of Credit (LC), Customs, Factoring, Cash Repatriation
Service providers discussed in this report: 
Standard Chartered, HSBC, QNB, Citi, SWIFT, Commercial International Bank Egypt

Please log in, or create a free account, to read the whole report summary.

Corporate Treasury & FX in Turkey

Report date: 
24 Oct 2024

C

To read this commentary please Register or Log In.

CXC reports are based on confidential peer discussions between senior corporate treasurers sharing their solutions to complex treasury challenges.

Our commentaries, comprising the key findings from the reports are FREE - simply register to access 150+ commentaries and receive new commentaries direct to your inbox.

Our reports are packed with practical, experience based learning allowing users to benchmark their operations and identify proven, actionable efficiencies - please get in touch for details.

Topics covered in this report: 
Funding, Intercompany loans, FX, Hedging FX, Working Capital, Banking, Bank Relationships
Service providers discussed in this report: 
Deutsche Bank, BNP Paribas, Citi, TEB, HSBC, FXall

Please log in, or create a free account, to read the whole report summary.

Caribbean Region - Corporate Treasury Update

Report date: 
3 Sep 2024

To read this commentary please Register or Log In.

CXC reports are based on confidential peer discussions between senior corporate treasurers sharing their solutions to complex treasury challenges.

Our commentaries, comprising the key findings from the reports are FREE - simply register to access 150+ commentaries and receive new commentaries direct to your inbox.

Our reports are packed with practical, experience based learning allowing users to benchmark their operations and identify proven, actionable efficiencies - please get in touch for details.

Topics covered in this report: 
Bank Relationships, FX, payroll
Service providers discussed in this report: 
Citi, Scotia, Banco Popular (Dominican Republic), Republic Bank (Trinidad & Tobago), Jamiaca National Bank

Please log in, or create a free account, to read the whole report summary.

China Cash Pooling - Approaches & Experiences : Corporate Treasury

Report date: 
8 Jul 2024

This discussion explored the complexities of cash pooling in China, a topic that frequently arises in treasury conversations. While the goal was to clarify the regulatory landscape and operational requirements, the findings reinforced the reality that rules remain open to interpretation and can vary significantly depending on the bank and regulatory body involved.

Peers examined the key distinctions between domestic and cross-border pooling, the regulatory approvals required, and the different approaches banks offer. The discussion also touched on challenges related to tax considerations, currency exposure, and the evolving stance of authorities on approvals and compliance.

Rather than a single, definitive framework, the session highlighted the diversity of experiences and strategies companies use to navigate cash pooling in China. For treasurers managing liquidity across borders, this report provides critical insights into practical considerations, regulatory nuances, and emerging trends. The full version offers further details on bank-specific practices, tax implications, and risk management approaches.

 

Please Login / Register to access the free  commentary - the full report (18 pages) is available to subscribers or  can be purchased separately - enquire here.

 

Topics covered in this report: 
Cash Pooling - cross border, Cash Pooling - domestic, transfer pricing, Bank Relationships, Entrustment loans
Service providers discussed in this report: 
HSBC, JP Morgan, PBOC, SAFE, ICBC, Bank of China, China Construction Bank, Citi, BNP Paribas, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank

Please log in, or create a free account, to read the whole report summary.

Brazil Corporate Treasury Update

Report date: 
27 Mar 2024

Commentary

Brazil is a success story. It often does not receive the credit it deserves, because it remains a difficult and complicated place to do business. But all the treasurers involved in this discussion have large and profitable businesses there – there was a time when most people lost money. On the political front, Brazil has recently seen both left and right wing governments, but both have respected election results, and the economy has continued to progress through it all.

Of course, it is not all rosy: though many rules and administrative processes have been relaxed, much complexity remains. In the past, a local treasury presence was required: it is now possible to run the country from offshore, though a specialist team may still be necessary.

The challenges discussed in the call:

  • Boletos: many customers in Brazil pay using boletos. These are a form of bill of exchange, where a document is prepared, usually by the seller, with all the payment information, including a barcode. This can then be presented by the payer in any location, and payment will be received by the seller in their bank account. This is a good system, but participants complained vehemently about the cost, and banks’ unwillingness to reduce the fees. Other issues:
  • Boletos are often cancelled when they are not paid on time and a new one is issued, instead of charging the intended late payment fees. 
  • Payment of a single invoice is often spread over several boletos, each with different due dates: this causes the very accounts receivable reconciliation issues the system is designed to avoid.
  • Boletos can be issued electronically (e-boletos): these reduce the amount of paper but, disappointingly, the fee reduction is not significant.
  • Some participants regularly do RFPs for this business, and frequently change banks. But fees remain high, and banks are often unwilling to continue.
  • Frequent changes in the process and rules present challenges in keeping the systems updated – this often results in manual processing.
  • One participant noted an improvement in service and processing efficiency.
  • PIX: the good news is that a form of on-line payment, PIX, is available and becoming increasingly popular, even for B2B transactions – and the fees are paid by the payor. The bad news is that the fees are also high, though not as high as for boletos. 
  • Tax payments: there is a requirement to maintain accounts with many local banks to make payments to tax authorities around the country. One participant is very happy with a JPMorgan tool to manage this and eliminate the related local accounts. Another used this tool in the past, but is now achieving the same result with Citi.
  • FX documentation

Please Log in or Register to continue reading this commentary

Topics covered in this report: 
Bank Relationships, FX, Hedging FX, Receivables, Boletos, payroll, PIX, Tax, Supply Chain Finance
Service providers discussed in this report: 
Bradesco, Itau, Citi, Bank of America, JP Morgan, Santander, FXall

Please log in, or create a free account, to read the whole report summary.

Managing Bank Relationships in Japan

Report date: 
18 Mar 2024

Commentary

With complex countries, we usually think of emerging markets. Japan is one of the most advanced, largest and affluent economies in the world – but it is also a very complex place for foreign companies to operate in.

Usually, the complexity for treasurers comes from regulation. In Japan, this is not the case: the yen is freely traded in one of the deepest markets; cash can be pooled and swept both within the country and across borders; one participant does POBO there; Japanese banks willingly report transactions and balances by MT 940; it has deep and open capital markets; and four of the world’s twenty largest banks by assets are Japanese. Instead, the complexity comes from a very strong culture, which is often not well understood by non Japanese, and which leads to a different way of doing business.

This call, which was well attended and quite animated, went into the challenges foreign treasurers face in this environment. Peers raised the following:

  • High bank fees: Japanese banks are reluctant to negotiate these down
  • Japanese banks are not used to RFPs for cash management – this is not how the domestic market operates. Many large Japanese companies have strong historical relationships with their banks, which often involve minority shareholdings.
  • While MT 940s are not an issue, one participant faced significant issues getting their Japanese bank to implement even a simple host to host communication
  • Communications challenges: it can be difficult to find Japanese employees who speak good English – very few bankers in domestic operations speak it.
  • The need to carefully manage business meetings: these are usually more formal than in many other cultures: deference to senior personnel is required
  • Difficulty managing onshore operations from a remote location: the local online banking tools are nearly all Japanese language only
  • The language issue is further complicated by the katakana character set
  • Resistance of local teams to change, especially if it involves working with foreign banks
  • Complexity in managing relationships and wallet share with Japanese banks, who are often key global providers of credit and FX
  • The use of company chops instead of signatures, and the related control issues
  • The requirement to use local bank accounts for certain types of tax payments
  • Security and confidentiality in Japanese online payment systems is not best in class – one participant had an issue with a single person (not in HR) making all payroll payments
  • Repatriating cash via dividends and intercompany loans is not a problem, but it brings the usual complications: the need for retained earnings (one participant’s business receives advance payments), withholding tax and currency hedging cost. 

How to handle these problems?

  • One peer did an RFP a few years ago, and awarded

Please Log in or Register to continue reading this commentary

Topics covered in this report: 
Bank Relationships, Intercompany loans, Dividends, POBO/ROBO, RFPs, Cash Pooling - cross border, Cash Pooling - domestic
Service providers discussed in this report: 
Bank of America, JP Morgan, MUFG, Mizuho, SMBC, Citi, HSBC, Standard Chartered, Deutsche Bank

Please log in, or create a free account, to read the whole report summary.

India Corporate Treasury Update

Report date: 
20 Feb 2024

Commentary

Calls on India are always well attended: there is never a shortage of items to discuss. It is already a very large market, and it continues to grow – so all international companies are motivated to manage its many complexities. 

Complexity is something at which India excels: the regulations are many, varied, and never easy to navigate. It can be difficult to know exactly what they are: as often happens, we spent a lot of time trying to establish what is, and what is not, allowed. At the same time, the country has come a long way. Many things which used to be forbidden are now allowed: cash can be brought into and out of the country with relative ease, though not without red tape. The authorities are relatively flexible and business friendly. India is in the vanguard of efforts to move away from cash for retail transactions: this may be mostly for tax reasons, but it reflects the country’s leading position in technology.

At the same time, it remains a very large country, with significant regional variations, including language, climate, culture and religion – so differences will continue to exist. Our conversation covered the following points:

  • The economy continues to perform well, though competition is fierce – and, in some areas, India continues to favour national champions.
  • Operations: most peers had different legal entities in India involved in different activities: manufacturing, R&D, shared service centres, marketing, etc. Intercompany lending within the country, while permitted, can be complicated.
  • Onshore versus centralised treasury: many MNCs have local treasury teams, due to the regulations and complexity. This is beginning to change: several participants are starting to bring India into their centralised structures. 
  • Similarly, most peers are only using international banks in the country, and shutting down relationships with local banks. One participant attributed this in part to a regulatory requirement to link lending activity to transactional business – especially as the foreign banks can now provide complete services.
  • Another peer

Please Log in or Register to continue reading this commentary

Topics covered in this report: 
Bank Relationships, FX, Hedging FX, Payments - cross border, Intercompany loans, Cash Pooling - domestic, Cash Repatriation, Payments - domestic, Funding
Service providers discussed in this report: 
Citi, HSBC, JP Morgan, Bank of America, Standard Chartered, BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank

Please log in, or create a free account, to read the whole report summary.

Approaches to Banking Relationships

Report date: 
5 Feb 2024

Commentary

Managing banking relations is one of a treasurer’s most important – and most challenging – responsibilities.

In this lively discussion – it always is – we went over a lot of familiar ground. As always, we got new insights, and perspectives on how the landscape is shifting.

General, and mostly shared, approach:

  • Nearly all treasurers try to manage wallet share as fairly as possible. A frequent comment is that the bank needs to view the corporate as a good and worthwhile customer: paying the lowest price is not always top priority.
    • COVID showed that banks will reduce support to corporates who they do not view as worthwhile clients.
    • A couple of participants said banks wanted to exit unprofitable relationships
  • This requires keeping track of what you spend with each bank – that presents a whole series of challenges.
  • It also means working out what money the banks make out of you. For obvious reasons, this involves quite a lot of guesswork. But it also means being sensitive to the fact that not all banks give the same weight to the same kind of business.
  • Everyone tries to make sure the banks which provide credit support receive the best deal when it comes to allocating business. In some cases this is quite formal: taking part in the credit facility is often a requirement to be allocated fee business.
  • This is all very well, but it presents challenges: 
    • Do you give FX business to a bank which is uncompetitive, just because they are in the RCF?  Generally, no.
    • Do you do cash management with a bank just because they are in the RCF? Here, it is nearly always no.
    • How do you handle debt and capital markets activity, where some of the major investment banks do not do corporate lending? This was a long discussion.
    • Travel cards and car leasing can help with the equation.
  • What is changing?
  • Most of our members on all calls prefer to work with local banks as little as possible, and deal with core international banks – preferably those who provide credit. Could this change as the global financial system may fragment? One participant is making preliminary moves in that direction. 
  • Most participants are moving in the direction of greater diversification, at least for deposits, mostly driven by risk management considerations (SVB). One participant did this after finding that a core relationship bank had been over pricing. 
  • Fintech solutions were discussed. Most participants prefer to
Please Login or Register to access the rest of this free commentary.
If you haven't previously Logged in but receive commentaries via email, simply use your email address to change your password & LogIn
Topics covered in this report: 
Bank Relationships

Please log in, or create a free account, to read the whole report summary.

Pages