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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