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.

Board of Directors

Officers

Suresh Subramanian
Suresh Subramanian
Chair

BNP Paribas

Nick Smit
Nick Smit
Vice Chair

ING

Michelle Knowles
Michelle Knowles
Secretary/Treasurer

ABSA

Maram Al-Jazireh
Maram Al-Jazireh
Past Chair

Arab Bank

Tod Burwell
Tod Burwell
President & CEO

BAFT

Derryn Faure
Derryn Faure
Africa Council Co-Chair

Investec

John Kinyangi
John Kinyangi
Africa Council Co-Chair

Standard Bank Group

Sriram Muthukrishnan
Sriram Muthukrishnan
Asia Council Co-Chair

DBS Bank

Julie Patterson
Julie Patterson
Asia Council Co-Chair

National Australia Bank (NAB)

Jean-François Mazure
Jean-François Mazure
Europe Council Co-Chair

Société Générale

Karin Walchshöfer
Karin Walchshöfer
Europe Council Co-Chair

BMO (Bank of Montreal)

Rana Beydoun
Rana Beydoun
MENA Council Co-Chair

Commercial Bank of Dubai

Ayaz Kamlani
Ayaz Kamlani
MENA Council Co-Chair

First Abu Dhabi Bank

Dyanne Carenza
Dyanne Carenza
North America Council Co-Chair

Scotiabank

Aaron Zynczak
Aaron Zynczak
North America Council Co-Chair

First Citizens Bank

Eddy Almonte
Eddy Almonte
Director

Bank of America

Mark G. Doctoroff
Mark G. Doctoroff
Director

MUFG

Brian Gordon
Brian Gordon
Director

Commerce Bank

Patrik Havander
Patrik Havander
Director

VISA

Darryll Hendricks
Darryll Hendricks
Director

UBS

Robert Hostler
Robert Hostler
Director

Citi

Maurice Iskandar
Maurice Iskandar
Director

Banque Libano-Française

George Lee
George Lee
Director

Standard Chartered Bank

Miriam Ratkovicova
Miriam Ratkovicova
Director

Deloitte

Amy Sahm
Amy Sahm
Director

Fulton Bank

Sabry Salman
Sabry Salman
Director

Barclays

Anjali Shah
Anjali Shah
Director

BNY Mellon

Peter Zotos
Peter Zotos
Director

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Staff

Tod Burwell
Tod Burwell
President & CEO

+1 (202) 663-5252
[email protected]

Daniel Berenguer
Daniel Berenguer
Manager, Education and Training

+1 (202) 663-7575
[email protected]

Blair Bernstein
Blair Bernstein
Senior Director, Public Relations (Media Contact)

+1 (202) 663-5468
[email protected]

Carleen Hadley
Carleen Hadley
Regional Representative, Europe & Executive Liaison

+44 13 0662 1039
[email protected]

Kathryn Hoch
Kathryn Hoch
Director, Events and Programs

+1 (202) 663-5536
[email protected]

Matthew Kaitz
Matthew Kaitz
Director, Business Development

+1 (202) 663-5463
[email protected]

Nancy Monahan
Nancy Monahan
Senior Director, Membership

+1 (202) 663-5530
[email protected]

Brianna Peterson
Brianna Peterson
Manager, Marketing

+1 (202) 663-5473
[email protected]

Daniel Pinho
Daniel Pinho
Vice President, Operations and Business Management

+1 (202) 663-7618
[email protected]

Arlene Sanchez
Arlene Sanchez
Vice President, Marketing and Events

+1 (202) 663-5532
[email protected]

TS Shankar
TS Shankar
Regional Representative, Asia & Executive Liaison

+1 (202) 663-7575
[email protected]

Deepa Sinha
Deepa Sinha
Vice President, Payments and Financial Crime

+1 (202) 663-5463
[email protected]

Scott Stevenson
Scott Stevenson
Senior Vice President, Trade

+1 (202) 663-5537
[email protected]