Export Insurance Services of Augusta, GA., is Named EX-IM Bank's Small Business Broker of the Year
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Export Insurance Services, Inc. (EIS), Augusta, Ga., is to receive the 2007 Small Business Broker of the Year award from the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) at Ex-Im Bank's annual conference in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, April 12.
EIS is being recognized for the outstanding growth in its portfolio of U.S. small business exporters who are actively using Ex-Im Bank insurance — a 65 percent increase from 2005 to 2006. The broker also has shown leadership in bringing its small business clients to Ex-Im Bank's new on-line insurance application process, which is designed to speed up service to users. This enables Ex-Im Bank to better carry out its mission of supporting U.S. exports and, in the process, creating and sustaining U.S. jobs. EIS is among the top three brokers serving small business exporters for Ex-Im Bank.
Our small business exporting clients who use Ex-Im Bank are benefiting from the time saved by conducting virtually any policy management task on line, including reviewing policy documents and terms, obtaining buyer credit limits, submitting applications, renewing policies, requesting policy amendments, and reporting on shipments, said EIS President Gail Wilson.
Every month EIS customers insured by Ex-Im Bank have to submit shipment reports to EIS, Wilson explained: Before, they had to fill out reports manually. Now, under Ex-Im Bank's on-line system, the buyers already are entered in the system. The insureds only have to put a check next to the buyer they shipped to the previous month and enter the amount of the invoice. The system calculates the premium due and totals it up and that's it! They can pay by credit card, check, or electronic credit, and it's done!
In addition to the impressive growth of its support for small business exporters, EIS has shown real leadership in working with Ex-Im Bank to bring our new on-line system to the marketplace, said Ex-Im Bank Chairman and President James H. Lambright. Small businesses hold the greatest potential for U.S. export growth, and EIS is helping them unlock this potential. We are thrilled to present them with this award.
It is the second time in three years that EIS, a family-owned business and long-time Ex-Im Bank partner, has been the recipient of an Ex-Im Bank award; in 2005 EIS received Ex-Im Bank's Regional Exporter of the Year award for its strong promotion of Ex-Im Bank's small business insurance products.
EIS clients — primarily small businesses — were originally concentrated in the Southeast and Southwest, but the company has experienced major business growth in the Midwest and South Florida.
Ex-Im Bank's 32nd annual conference on April 12 and 13 will be held at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. The award ceremony will take place during the April 12 luncheon program which begins at 12:30 p.m.
Ex-Im Bank is an independent U.S. government agency that assists in financing the export of U.S. goods and services to markets around the world, through export credit insurance, loan guarantees, and direct loans. In fiscal year 2006, Ex-Im Bank authorized over $12.1 billion in transactions supporting an estimated $16.1 billion in U.S. exports.
For more information about Ex-Im Bank's Annual Conference, including online registration, accommodations, and program details, visit http://www.exim.gov/.