Head of Unit (Financial Institutions, Multilaterals and Trade Finance)

Isabel Maria Girão Martinho Claro

(351-********* Caxias, Lisbon, Portugal *********@*****.*** https://pt.linkedin.com/in/isabel-martinho-claro-6abb1010

PROFILE

Expert in the banking industry with more than 23 years of experience in International business with direct responsibility for Financial Institutions, Multilaterals and Trade Finance as well as managerial oversight of international business within the Bank. In-depth knowledge of Trade Finance business and Correspondent Banking / Global Transaction Banking, complemented with a global and wide network of contacts. Experience with Global Trade Facilitation Programmes and other solutions from Development Banks, Multilaterals and Export Credit Agencies. Extensive experience in originating, structuring and execution of complex transactions, including loan syndications, structured trade finance, real estate development, loans restructuring as well as business development and portfolio management. Advanced knowledge of credit risk/analysis and credit scorings for Financial Institutions and Countries. Highly motivated, dynamic, dedicated, autonomous, flexible, straightforward, positive mental attitude, well organised, attention to detail with analytical skills. Focus on the Client with ability to identify different business opportunities and different solutions. Open to new challenges. Advanced computer skills. Fluent in Portuguese and English, intermediary in Spanish and limited working proficiency in French.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Banif – Banco Internacional do Funchal, SA (Commercial Bank), Lisbon, Portugal 2011-present

Head of Financial Institutions, Multilaterals and Trade Finance Unit / Interim Head of International Business Division

Led the application and implementation of the SME InnovFin Programme from European Investment Fund (EIF) in the Bank, under which it was raised an unfunded line, achieving to be one of the three financial intermediaries in Portugal offering this solution from EIF to Portuguese SMEs;

Led the development and promotion of the Trade Finance Business in the Bank, working alongside commercial and marketing teams to sell trade finance solutions. This resulted in an increase of 80% in active Clients in this business. Additionally monitored the trade finance business in the Bank, comparing with its peers;

Led the rationalization process of correspondent banking network (reduced compliance time and costs, reduced account management fees by more than 50% and increased negotiation power with reciprocity);

Led the negotiation of international services with correspondent banks driving revenues/costs and business strategies for sustainable relationships and growth of net results;

Initiated and led the application and due diligence process of the Bank to the membership of a global factor Association as well as initiated the implementation process of International Factoring in the Bank to be align with competition in the market;

Originated funded and unfunded lines on behalf of the Bank for treasury (Money Market, Currency Swaps and Repos) and trade finance transactions (Confirmation of L/Cs, guarantees and financing of trade finance transactions);

Developed risk mitigation of trade finance assets, which included Trade Facilitation Programmes from Development Banks (IFC, EBRD, ADB and IADB) solutions from Portuguese Export Credit Agency (COSEC) and other structured Trade Finance transactions;

Explored and developed new international solutions to provide a better and more complete range of international services / products to the Bank’s Clients, such as, direct financing to the overseas importer on behalf of a bank’s exporter Client, financing for innovative companies, among others;

Initiated the process for micro companies products from Investment European Fund;

Monitored and submitted to the CEO on a semi-annual basis reports on international trends of Trade business;

Represented the Bank in annual meetings / conferences for bankers, such as IADB, IFC, Sibos (SWIFT annual conference) complemented with bilateral meetings with other Banks, Institutions and other entities;

Liaised internally with other departments such as Compliance, Auditing, Operacional and Commercial in all issues related with Financial Institutions, Multilaterals and Credit Insurance companies;

Participated in several committees in the Bank as responsible for the International area (Credit Committee, IT Steering, HR committee, Restructuring Committee);

Participated as invitee in the Board of Directors of the Bank in the Bahamas between 2013 and 2015;

Monitored and managed the credit portfolio of the Bank in the Bahamas (regular and distressed loans) and also the credit function;

Created and implemented the credit regulations in the Bank in the Bahamas;

Banif – Banco Internacional do Funchal, SA (Commercial Bank), Lisbon, Portugal 2000-2011

Senior Manager / Head of Financial Institutions and International Operations Unit

Successfully launched and closed syndicated loans / schuldshein and bilateral loans on behalf of the Bank with over 100% subscription of more than EUR 1.5 bn and also monitored the funding raising portfolio;

Structured and originated through my department and overseas subsidiaries / branches on the primary and secondary markets different types of international operations such as syndicated loans, bilateral loans, trade related loans, Trade Finance loans (pre export finance, export finance and import finance), treasury loans, mortgage loans and real estate development loans. The portfolio reached more than USD 400 million with exposure to the following countries Brazil, Cape Verde, Malta, Angola, Nigeria, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Russia, Turkey among others;

Portfolio management: international credit portfolio of the Bank and subsidiaries of the Group;

Originated forfaiting transactions with Corporate Portuguese risk from overseas banks and trading companies;

Managed the relationship with Banks, Financial Institutions and other entities of the Group;

Created, updated and implemented a Credit Scoring Model for Banks and Countries (internal ratings and establishment of lines) based on the BankScope Data Base;

Banco Mello SA (Commercial Bank), Lisbon, Portugal 1996-2000

Manager International Division

Created, updated and implemented the Credit Scoring Model for Banks (internal ratings and establishment of lines) based on the BankScope Data Base

Analysed and proposed international operations (syndicated loans, bonds, government loans, among others);

Relationship with banks from Emerging Markets;

Followed the execution of forfaiting transactions with Corporate Portuguese risk.

União de Bancos Portugueses (Commercial Bank), Lisbon, Portugal 1992-1996

International Officer (implementation of trade finance IT system, international operations)

EDUCATION

CFA INSTITUTE 2016

CFA LEVEL I candidate

LONDON INSTITUTE OF BANKING & FINANCE 2016

Certificate of International Trade and Finance (complete)

58TH INTERNATIONAL BANKING SUMMER SCHOOL IBSS 2005, Dublin, Ireland 2005

Managing Financial Institutions, The Key Challenges

THE PORTUGUESE BANK TRAINING INSTITUTE / UNIVERSIDADE CATÓLICA PORTUGUESA 1996

Lisbon, Portugal

Advanced Program of Banking Management (Post Graduation)

WHARTON SCHOOL, PHILADELPHIA, EUA 1995

Advanced Management Program for Overseas Bankers

ISCTE BUSINESS SCHOOL, Lisbon, Portugal 1986/1991

Graduate Degree in Business Administration and Management

OTHER EXPERIENCE

Computer Skills: good command of Microsoft Office Suite, Visual Basic; BankScope Data Base; Bankers Almanac Data Base; Debtdomain;

Languages: Fluent in Portuguese and English, intermediary in Spanish (improving the knowledge at Instituto Cervantes) and limited working proficiency in French (improving the knowledge);

Conferences / Seminars: Bank & Country Risk Analysis (Euromoney, Vienna), Syndicated Loans and documentation (Euromoney / London), Credit Assessment Course (Lloyds TSB Corporate Solihull, UK), Managing time and stress / motivate and leadership (Lisbon), Conference participant in Sibos 2008 (Austria), Sibos 2010 (Netherlands), Sibos 2013 (Dubai), Sibos 2014 (Boston), Sibos 2015 (Singapore) and in the annual meetings of the Inter-American Development Bank 2014 (Brazil) and of the International Finance Corporation 2014 (Lisbon);

Hobbies: yacht racing, jogging, reading, music, among others

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