Meridian Finance Group Named EXIM 2021 Broker of the Year
September 22, 2021
(Ex-Im Bank)
California-based Trade Finance and Insurance
Firm with International Reach Honored by EXIM
for Fourth Time as Broker of the Year
WASHINGTON –Today the Export-Import Bank of
the United States (EXIM) again recognized Meridian Finance Group,
headquartered in Los Angeles, California, as
EXIM’s 2021 Broker of the Year. Meridian also
received EXIM’s Broker award in 2000, 2003,
and 2013—making this broker the second
four-time award winner. The award was presented
today during EXIM’s 2021 Annual Conference
being held virtually September 21-23.
“EXIM appreciates our extensive collaboration
with Meridian Finance Group over our many
productive years collaborating on behalf of
America’s exporters and workers. We look
forward to the future as we continue working to
ensure the success of U.S. exports—especially
from small businesses—to markets across the
globe while providing support for American jobs
at home,” said EXIM Broker Account Manager
Ursula Wegrzynowicz, who presented the award.
“While most of Meridian's business is
underwritten by insurance companies in the
private sector, we broker EXIM Bank policies
for hundreds of exporters who would not find
the credit insurance they need anywhere
else,” said Meridian President Gary Mendell.
“We value our partnership with EXIM and are
proud of the work we do together to support
U.S. exports. Exporting represents a key
component of our nation’s economic recovery,
so we need to keep reaching out and help even
more U.S. exporters begin taking advantage of
EXIM programs.”
Meridian Finance Group specializes in trade
credit insurance, with representatives in
locations across the United States as well
as—with its parent company Texel
Finance—offices in London, Brussels, and
Singapore. An EXIM-registered broker for many
years, Meridian is one of EXIM’s 19
platinum-tier brokers and has been one of
EXIM’s top three producers by authorization
count and authorization amount.
In FY 2020, Meridian produced 235
authorizations—the second-highest number
among all brokers. Of these authorizations, 93
percent for small businesses. Of new EXIM
policies, Meridian produced the second-highest
number and the fourth-highest authorization
amount.
Meridian has been a strong supporter of
EXIM’s ongoing efforts to improve and expand
the agency’s products and services to
customers, including serving on the 2020-2021
EXIM Chairman’s Council on China Competition
and EXIM’s inaugural Broker Advisory Council.
Established in 1993, Meridian Finance Group was
organized to help equipment manufacturers
increase their export sales, primarily by
arranging cross-border financing for their
customers in emerging foreign markets. The
firm’s activities soon expanded to include
short-term trade credit, leading Meridian to
enter the business of brokering trade credit
insurance. Over the past 28 years Meridian has
helped hundreds of companies nationwide to
protect their receivables against nonpayment
risks, expand their U.S. and international
sales, and arrange financing using trade credit
insurance. The Meridian team also still
arranges cross-border financing.
Acquired by The Texel Group in 2017,
Meridian works with every insurer in the credit
insurance market worldwide. Beyond negotiating
effective terms and conditions for
policyholders, Meridian provides comprehensive
support for every policy they sell, including
in the event of claims.
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