About Us
Learn more about our mission, vision and history, who we are, what we do, and meet some of the faces behind the industry’s preeminent international transaction banking association.
Who we are
BAFT is the leading global forum for bringing the financial community, its solution providers and stakeholders together to collaborate on defining best market practices that facilitate efficient delivery of trade and cash management products and service offerings for their clients.
Celebrating 100 Years of Leadership in Finance and Trade
BAFT celebrated its centennial anniversary in June 2021. Steve Bash, former BAFT Chairman of the Board & Senior Vice President and Manager of International Banking and Trade Finance at City National Bank, narrates the 100 year history of BAFT from its founding until today.
The Leading Transaction Banking Association
BAFT provides unmatched advocacy, thought leadership, education and training, and a global forum for international transaction bankers across the industry.
Our expertise is focused on the areas of trade finance, payments, compliance and regulations.
For 100 years, BAFT has played an important role in expanding markets, shaping regulatory and legislative policy, developing business solutions and preserving the safety and soundness of the global financial system.
Our History
Founded in 1921 as the Bankers Association for Foreign Trade, BAFT brought together the international departments of 10 banks located in the Midwestern United States to collaborate on common issues and concerns of their international trade customers. When a group of bankers in New York met in 1924 to discuss ways to expedite the business transactions between themselves and their foreign correspondents, they ultimately formed the International Financial Services Association (IFSA). Since 2010, the two groups have operated as one and officially rebranded to BAFT, or the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade, in 2014.
BAFT took a major step forward in 2001 establishing its International Advisory Council to support interests of its growing community of global banks with a presence in the US market, and also established a European Advisory Council to organize efforts to support its European membership. In 2002, BAFT became an independent, wholly owned subsidiary of the American Bankers Association (ABA). With this additional support, the organization’s global growth continued, and BAFT now operates councils throughout the world.
What we do
Mission
BAFT is the leading global industry association for international transaction banking. It helps bridge solutions across financial institutions, service providers and the regulatory community that promote sound financial practices enabling innovation, efficiency and commercial growth.
BAFT works to shape policy, establish best practices, and deliver education and training to its member institutions and the industry at large. Most importantly, BAFT continues to be a valuable resource for bringing together stakeholders across the transaction banking ecosystem to effectively collaborate in solving common issues.
Strategic Pillars
- Promote THOUGHT LEADERSHIP within the industry
- Conduct ADVOCACY on behalf of the industry
- Provide EDUCATION & TRAINING to the industry
- Build a GLOBAL COMMUNITY across the industry
Delivering Value Through
Opportunities to hear from and connect with global, regional and product leaders
A strong bench of policy experts who actively engage with lawmakers and regulators
Industry experts on councils, committees, and working groups
Global conferences, regional networking and other events
Webinars, workshops and online training designed for transaction bankers
Regularly updated best practices and industry guidelines from experts in the field
Board of Directors
Officers
Nick SmitChair
ING
Michelle KnowlesVice Chair
ABSA
Miriam RatkovicovaSecretary/Treasurer
Deloitte
Suresh SubramanianPast Chair
BNP Paribas
Tod BurwellPresident & CEO
BAFT
Alice Ferreira Azevedo Africa Council Co-Chair
Banco Fomento Angola
May Wafa Africa Council Co-Chair JPMorgan 
Andy ArduiniAmericas Council Co-Chair
Huntington Bank
Ricardo VelázquezAmericas Council Co-Chair
Banco Mercantile del Norte SA (Banorte)
Ashutosh KumarAsia Council Co-Chair
Mizuho
Angelia Chia Asia Council Co-Chair
Asia Development Bank
Dean SpositoEurope Council Co-Chair
Deutsche Bank
Rogier van LammerenEurope Council Co-Chair
Lloyds Bank
Rana BeydounMENA Council Co-Chair
Commercial Bank of Dubai
Oscar Sanz-ParisMENA Council Co-Chair
CQUR
Dyanne Carenza Director
Scotiabank
Patrick DevilbissDirector
CGI
Brian GordonDirector
Commerce Bank
Robert HostlerDirector
Citi
Maurice IskandarDirector
Banque Libano-Française
eddy AlmonteDirector
Bank of America
TJ RagusoDirector
Zions Bank
Tom LickissDirector
Wells Fargo
Paolo MuzzarelliDirector
UBS
Marissa Adams Director
HSBC Bank
Priyamvada SinghDirector
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC)
Staff
Tod BurwellPresident & CEO
+1 771 999 7220
[email protected]
Carleen HadleyRegional Representative, Europe & Executive Liaison
+44 13 0662 1039
[email protected]
Matthew KaitzSenior Director, Business Development
+1 771 999 7351
[email protected]
Daniel PinhoVice President, Operations and Business Management
+1 771 999 7320
[email protected]
Andrew PriceVice President, International Policy
+1 771 999 7347
[email protected]
Arlene SanchezVice President, Marketing, Conferences, and Educational Programs
+1 771 999 7266
[email protected]
TS ShankarRegional Representative, Asia & Executive Liaison
+1 650 539-7703
[email protected]
Deepa SinhaSenior Vice President, Payments & Financial Crimes and Women in Transaction Banking
+1 771 999 7216
[email protected]
Craig Weeks Senior Vice President, Trade
+1 771 999 7229
[email protected]