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California Bank & Trust’s Foreign Exchange services are designed to meet our customers’ various international needs. Whether your company is new to the international business arena, expanding into new markets, or managing a complex network of global partners, our team will help you design and execute an appropriate risk management strategy.
Value
Your company can realize the benefits of proactive foreign exchange management by collaborating with our knowledgeable and experienced professionals. If you have cross border flows as a part of your regular business, intentional management of your foreign currency exposure, you can derive benefit from:
Relationships
We understand the complex concerns that a company experienced in foreign exchange may have. We also support our customers that have smaller or less complicated transactions and will invest the time to ensure your needs are met. You will receive helpful market advice, efficient execution of your trades and competitive pricing. Our operations and investigations support teams are located in house. Our firm commitment to our clients ensures each receives the excellent level of service that California Bank & Trust is proud to provide.
Solutions
Our foreign exchange team is dedicated to providing your business with the appropriate solutions to manage your cross-border transactions and foreign exchange risk. We cover all major and many minor currencies, encompassing more than 95% of global trade volumes. We provide clients several foreign exchange delivery channels. eFX+ is our dynamic online dealing system that offers live rates, repetitive instruction templates and self-directed administration. We provide a quick and straight-forward alternative for initiating international wires. Learn more about our solutions:
Spot Contracts
Spot foreign exchange contracts provide the fastest way to convert one currency to another – useful in handling payables or receivables involving foreign currencies.
For most currencies, payment typically takes two business days. Payments in advance, open account settlements, and letters of credit all can be handled through spot contracts, a simple but effective way to make payments internationally. Two examples include:
Forward Contracts
With forward foreign exchange contracts, you can manage currency exposure beyond the spot contract price securing an exchange rate now for settlement at a future date.
This hedging technique can protect profit margins and increase your competitive standing worldwide. Anticipated foreign payables or receivables can be contracted at today's market levels to protect against future currency fluctuations.
Each forward contract includes two components
If the spot is for settlement in two days, the forwards will allow pricing to reflect which currency is more attractive to hold beyond spot. A forward contract is either more attractive or less attractive, depending upon whether you are buying or selling a currency with a higher rate of interest.
Window Forward Contracts
The world is not a perfect place – so it's often challenging to determine exactly when a payment will take place. Production or shipment dates, the conclusion of legal matters, and invoice discounting all can impact when payments are released. Yet even when settlement dates are not certain, it is still possible to hedge foreign currency transactions by the use of a Window Forward contract.
Window Forward contracts work in same manner that forward contracts do with one exception: allowing the settlement over a period of time rather than one specific date – giving you more flexibility and convenience.
Non-Deliverable Forwards
As a short-term currency derivative instrument, a non-deliverable forward contract is essentially a cash-settled outright forward forex contract on the price of a foreign currency at the contracted settlement date.
The profit or loss on the notional value of the contract is adjusted between two counterparties based on the difference between the contracted forward rate and the prevailing spot rate. Settlement is made is US dollars.
EFX+
eFX+ is CBT’s innovative online foreign exchange trading portal. It provides access to real-time foreign exchange rates and enables customers to quickly and efficiently complete their company’s foreign exchange transactions. The robust capabilities and set of services offered by eFX+ can be customized to meet your company’s needs for managing foreign exchange risk in real time.
The system provides:
Foreign Currency Bank Notes
Convenience from A Reliable Relationship
Departing on that long-awaited vacation to Europe? Returning from business meetings in Hong Kong? Make CB&T your reliable source for exchanging more than 80 foreign currencies from around the globe. With user-friendly order options and competitive exchange rates,
Service
When travelling globally, the last thing you need to worry about is having the appropriate currency in hand when you arrive. You can take care of this at CBT before you leave and arrive with local currency for tips, food and transportation.
You can avoid the hassle, timing issues and potential extra fees associated with exchanging currency at local banks, airports, train stations, hotels, private exchange kiosks and ATMs. When you return, any unused foreign currency (no coins) can be brought back to us and we’ll buy it back at prevailing exchange rates.
Savings
You will receive reliable, competitive exchange rates, which are updated daily, for both buying and selling foreign currency from your local bank.
Know your exchange rate/conversion before leaving for more accurate expense accounting. Don’t get caught at the mercy of local merchants or street vendors, or get stuck upon arrival needing local currency and having to use whatever is available. And remember, our customers do not pay any additional service fees for buying or selling foreign currency with us.
International Wire Transfers
Foreign currency wires are a fast, secure way to send payments in most foreign currencies and US dollars. At CB&T, you can rest assured that your funds will reach their destination within 48 hours.
We offer electronic funds transfer service for your convenience – transmitting your payment instructions using FEDWIRESM and SWIFT communications networks, and notifying you when you receive funds.