| dc.description.abstract | Conducting international trade requires routine access to external capital. Wellfunctioning
financial institutions are thus necessary to support the global exchange of
goods and services. Indeed, countries with strong financial institutions have been
shown to enjoy a comparative advantage and export relatively more in financially
vulnerable sectors. However, weak financial institutions hinder growth and general
economic activity. Their consequences for cross-border flows might therefore simply
reflect disruptions to overall trade. This study therefore sought to determine the role of
I&M Bank in fostering International Business in Kenya by answering the following
question: How does the role of the bank in facilitating bank transfers, foreign
exchange transaction and trade financing foster international business? The research
study used a case study in the investigation as it facilitates probing in depth into a
situation with the intent of diagnosing a particular condition and recommending
appropriate measures. The target population was drawn I&M while qualitative data
will be analyzed through content analysis. The research study established that I&M
deals in foreign currency by buying and selling currencies from and selling to their
clients. The bank executes its money transfer funds through: SWIFT which operates a
global fund transfer network. It also transfers funds through Brisk which transfers
funds to beneficiaries located in Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda and Moneygram and
western Union funds Transfer Avenue with branches across the world. The banks
offers Letters of credit (LC), import bills for collection, shipping guarantees, import
financing, performance bonds. The bank has relatively skilled personnel who
facilitates effective delivery of service by identifying their clients financial needs and
to meet those needs beyond their expectations, not only within the shortest possible
time, but also in the effective and efficient manner. The bank offers to its clients a
diversified portfolio of international services, which include commercial services,
insurance and investment business that saves them time and money. The bank also has
an institutional investment wing that caters for various institutions such as schools,
colleges, private firms in numerous sectors of the economy and in addition, not-forprofit
organisations such as churches and other non-governmental organizations. The
bank offers both retail and corporate products and services and therefore has a
comemrcial and corporate segment that focus their attention on satisfying the
requirements of the numerous clients and customers that fall into either the
commercial or corporate category. The bank has a modest branch network consisting
of twenty branches, spread out in teh major counties within the country; it also has
subsidiaries in Tanzania, Rwanda and Mauritius, together with a significant interest in
Propacto Bank which is located in France. There is need for the bank to increase the
number of personnel and offer the effective training so as to enhance customer service
delivery to build its international branch network so as to increase to tap into a wider
market of international clientele and to create awareness about its international
business services that it offers so as to attract potential clients | en |
