ITFA
ITFA, founded in 1999 and headquartered in Zürich, is a non-profit global trade association serving roughly 400 member institutions across 60+ countries engaged in trade, forfaiting, supply chain and receivables financing. It sets industry standards (URF800, URTEPO), publishes taxonomies and whitepapers, runs 11 regional committees and convenes the flagship Annual International Trade and Forfaiting Conference.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersZürich, Switzerland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ITFA does
ITFA (The International Trade and Forfaiting Association), founded in 1999 and headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, is the worldwide non-profit trade association for institutions engaged in global trade, forfaiting, supply chain and receivables financing. The association serves approximately 400 member institutions — including commercial and investment banks, insurance underwriters and brokers, fintechs, law firms, consultancies and development finance institutions — across more than 60 countries, organised through 11 regional committees spanning Africa, the Americas, ANZ, Central/Eastern Europe, Germany, Latin America, the Middle East, North East Asia, Northern Europe, South East Asia, Southern Europe and Switzerland. Its remit covers standards-setting (URF800, URTEPO), documentation templates (Master Risk Participation Agreement, ITFA MARA, Trade Credit Insurance Standard Policy Wording), publications (Trade Finance Taxonomy, Guide to Trade Finance, whitepapers on sustainable trade finance and African trade), and the operation of working groups and coalitions such as ITFIE and the TF COP multi-stakeholder coalition targeting the SME trade finance gap.
The association's core technology agenda is centred on the Digital Negotiable Instruments (DNI) Initiative, launched in 2019, which uses distributed ledger technology, electronic signatures and the ITFA ePayment Undertaking (ePU) framework — designed as a functional equivalent under the English Bills of Exchange Act 1882 — to digitise bills of exchange and promissory notes, alongside the URTEPO rules for transfer of electronic payment obligations published jointly with Komgo. Additional technology initiatives include the Trade Finance Distribution (TFD) Initiative for securitisation and non-bank liquidity, the Financial Crime Compliance (FCC) Initiative addressing fraud and AML, and a Tokenisation Strategies working group covering digital asset infrastructure connecting legal rights, settlement and investor access.
ITFA's business model is subscription-based membership plus event and content monetisation. Annual institutional membership is priced at €1,500 for Standard and €2,500 for Group membership (covering all subsidiaries); educational seminars are priced at €250 per attendee, with the 52nd Annual International Trade and Forfaiting Conference in Split, Croatia (September 2026) and regional committee events serving as additional revenue drivers alongside Gold and Silver sponsorship tiers. Distribution occurs through the ITFA website, member portal (members.itfa.org), LinkedIn presence, monthly ITFA Muse newsletter, regional committee networks and partnerships with trade media such as Global Trade Review and Trade Finance Global, with governance provided by an elected Board of Executive Members drawn from major member institutions.
ITFA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ITFA
- Legal name
- ITFA – International Trade and Forfaiting Association
- Website
- https://itfa.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ITFA, founded in 1999 and headquartered in Zürich, is a non-profit global trade association serving roughly 400 member institutions across 60+ countries engaged in trade, forfaiting, supply chain and receivables financing. It sets industry standards (URF800, URTEPO), publishes taxonomies and whitepapers, runs 11 regional committees and convenes the flagship Annual International Trade and Forfaiting Conference.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ITFA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Trade Association Services
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) & Trade Finance Institutions (BPADACAF)
Keywords
Where ITFA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Zürich
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
ITFA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: Primary revenue stream from annual membership fees charged to financial institutions, insurance companies, fintechs, law firms, and other trade finance participants. Standard membership at €1,500 per institution annually, with group membership at €2,500 covering all subsidiaries.
- Conference and Event Revenue: Revenue generated from the Annual International Trade and Forfaiting Conference and regional events. Discounted pricing for members creates membership value and drives attendance revenue.
- Educational Seminars and Training: Revenue from educational seminars including the one-day Trade Finance seminar (€250 per attendee). Training partnerships with universities and professional development programmes.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Standard Annual Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Group Membership |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Educational Seminar |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
ITFA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ITFA is the worldwide trade association for companies, financial institutions, and intermediaries engaged in global trade, forfaiting, supply chain, and receivables financing. Its core offering is institutional membership providing access to a global network of circa 400 member institutions across 60+ countries, plus industry standards (URF800, URTEPO), documentation templates, publications, an annual conference, regional committee events, and educational seminars for the trade finance community.
Product overview
ITFA (International Trade and Forfaiting Association) is the worldwide trade association for companies, financial institutions and intermediaries engaged in global trade, forfaiting, supply chain and receivables financing. Founded in 1999, ITFA is not a commercial software product company but rather an industry body providing standards, publications, education, and networking. Its core offerings include industry standards such as the Uniform Rules for Forfaiting (URF800) and Uniform Rules for Transferable Electronic Payment Obligations (URTEPO), documentation templates including the Master Risk Participation Agreement and ITFA MARA, and publications like the Trade Finance Taxonomy, Guide to Trade Finance, and various whitepapers. ITFA also runs technology initiatives including the DNI Initiative for digital negotiable instruments, TFD Initiative for trade finance distribution, FCC Initiative for financial crime compliance, and Tokenisation Strategies. The association facilitates the ITFIE working group for investment ecosystem development and TF COP coalition for SME financing gap elimination. ITFA provides education through its Emerging Leaders program with the Martin Ashurst Mentoring Scheme, and hosts the Annual International Trade and Forfaiting Conference plus regional events across 11 geographic committees.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ITFA Institutional Membership
- Annual International Trade and Forfaiting Conference
- Educational Seminars and Training
- Certificate in Trade Finance Customer Service
- Uniform Rules for Forfaiting (URF800)
- Uniform Rules for Transferable Electronic Payment Obligations (URTEPO)
- Master Risk Participation Agreement
- ITFA Master Accounts Receivable Assignment Agreement (ITFA MARA)
- Trade Credit Insurance Standard Policy Wording
- Trade Finance Taxonomy
- Guide to Trade Finance
- ITFA Sponsorship Packages (Gold & Silver)
Quantifiable outcome
- 400 member institutions across 60+ countries
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use ITFA
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
ITFA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
ITFA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- AfreximBankcoreAfrican Export-Import Bank partnered with ITFA as an associate organisation, supporting the African Regional Committee and trade finance activities in Africa. AfreximBank contributes to ITFA's efforts in addressing the African trade finance gap.
- BAFT (Bankers Association for Finance and Trade)coreBAFT is an associate organisation of ITFA and co-founder of TF COP coalition. BAFT collaborates on regulatory advocacy, market practice standards, and the development of industry documentation including Master Risk Participation Agreement.
- FCI (Factors Chain International)coreFCI is an associate organisation of ITFA and co-founder of TF COP coalition. Collaboration on standards for supply chain finance, receivables finance, and factoring across the trade finance ecosystem.
- ICC (International Chamber of Commerce)coreICC is an associate organisation of ITFA. Collaboration on digital trade settlement, URF development, and standard definitions for supply chain finance. ITFA helped draft Standard Definitions published jointly by ICC, FCI, BAFT, EBA and ITFA.
- ICISA (International Credit Insurance & Surety Association)coreICISA is an associate organisation of ITFA and co-founder of TF COP coalition. Collaboration on insurance standards, regulatory advocacy, and market practice for credit insurance in trade finance.
- Berne Union (International Union of Credit and Investment Insurers)coreBerne Union is an associate organisation of ITFA and co-founder of TF COP coalition. Collaboration on export credit insurance, political risk insurance, and investment insurance standards.
- KomgocoreITFA partnered with Komgo on the Trade Finance Taxonomy (2022), jointly published with the Komgo Secondary Market Workstream. Also jointly published 'Trade Asset Distribution: A Market at an Inflection Point' report (2026) exploring trade asset distribution and Basel IV impact.
- Trade Finance GlobalminorCollaborated on the Guide to Trade Finance published in September 2020. Trade Finance Global serves as media partner for taxonomy publication and industry education initiatives.
- The London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF)minorAssociate organisation providing educational services. LIBF collaborates on trade finance education and professional development programmes for ITFA members.
- ISCTE Business School (IBS)minorAssociate organisation. Partnership agreement for knowledge sharing through collaboration with colleges and universities for trade finance education.
- CUNEFminorAssociate organisation. CUNEF delivers targeted presentations to students on trade finance topics through university partnerships.
- African Trade & Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI)minorAssociate organisation of ITFA. ATIDI supports African regional trade and investment development insurance activities and participates in TF COP.
- Centre for Applied Sustainable Transition Law (CASTL)minorAssociate organisation of ITFA focused on sustainable transition law, supporting ITFA's ESG committee initiatives.
- European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)coreITFA works with EBRD on regulatory advocacy and hosted the TF COP Task Force Open Meeting. EBRD participates in TF COP as a public sector partner. Collaboration on SME trade finance gap solutions.
- TF COP Coalition PartnerscoreTF COP is a coalition of 5 industry bodies (BAFT, Berne Union, FCI, ICISA, ITFA) plus public sector entities (African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, IFC, EBRD, MIGA, etc.) and private sector companies working to eliminate the SME financing gap.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
ITFA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- BAFT - Bankers Association for Finance and Trade: Global trade association for transaction banking and trade finance, co-founder with ITFA of the TF COP coalition and co-author of the Master Risk Participation Agreement. Most directly comparable peer given overlapping membership, advocacy, and standards remit.
- FCI - Factors Chain International: Global factoring and receivables finance association, co-founder of TF COP with ITFA. Directly comparable as a membership association serving receivables financing, supply chain finance, and open account trade - the same corridors ITFA covers.
- Berne Union (International Union of Credit and Investment Insurers): Global association for export credit and investment insurance agencies, co-founder of TF COP with ITFA. Directly comparable as a peer membership body addressing the insurance side of the same trade finance transactions ITFA covers.
- ICISA - International Credit Insurance & Surety Association: Trade association for the commercial credit insurance industry, co-founder of TF COP. Directly comparable to ITFA on the credit insurance/political risk side, with overlapping membership (e.g., Liberty Specialty Markets, Swiss Re).
Broad incumbents
- ICC - International Chamber of Commerce: Broader international business body that publishes URC 522 (Uniform Rules for Collections) and jointly publishes trade finance Standard Definitions with ITFA, BAFT, FCI, and EBA. Overlaps ITFA's standards-setting role but at much larger scale and remit.
Emerging players
- IIBLP - Institute of International Banking Law & Practice: Specialised institute focused on international banking law and practice, including letters of credit and demand guarantees. Comparable to ITFA on the legal standards side (URDG, ISP98), though narrower in remit.
Others
- Global Trade Review (GTR): Leading trade finance media and events business that is an editorial partner of ITFA. Comparable as an ecosystem participant serving the same trade finance community, though operating as a media business rather than an association.
- Trade Finance Global (TFG): Trade finance media, education, and events platform that co-produced the ITFA Guide to Trade Finance in 2020. Comparable as an ecosystem participant serving trade finance professionals with content and events.
- Loan Syndications and Trading Association (LSTA): US trade association for the syndicated loan market, with parallels to ITFA in secondary market distribution, risk participation, and standard documentation. Operates in a related but distinct asset class (syndicated loans vs trade assets).
- European Banking Authority (EBA): EU regulatory body that co-publishes Standard Definitions for Supply Chain Finance with ITFA, BAFT, FCI, ICC. Comparable as an ecosystem participant setting standards and rules that intersect with ITFA's advocacy and documentation remit.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks2 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ITFA social profiles
Digital presenceITFA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ITFA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
ITFA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ITFA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ITFA
What does ITFA do?
ITFA is the worldwide trade association for companies, financial institutions, and intermediaries engaged in global trade, forfaiting, supply chain, and receivables financing. Its core offering is institutional membership providing access to a global network of circa 400 member institutions across 60+ countries, plus industry standards (URF800, URTEPO), documentation templates, publications, an annual conference, regional committee events, and educational seminars for the trade finance community.
Is ITFA a public or private company?
ITFA is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was ITFA founded?
ITFA was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is ITFA based?
ITFA is headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does ITFA make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are conference and Event Revenue and educational Seminars and Training.
Who are ITFA's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BAFT - Bankers Association for Finance and Trade, FCI - Factors Chain International, Berne Union (International Union of Credit and Investment Insurers) and ICISA - International Credit Insurance & Surety Association. ICC - International Chamber of Commerce is listed as a broad incumbent. IIBLP - Institute of International Banking Law & Practice is listed as an emerging player. Others are Global Trade Review (GTR), Trade Finance Global (TFG), Loan Syndications and Trading Association (LSTA) and European Banking Authority (EBA).
Does ITFA have an API?
No public API is recorded for ITFA.
What industry is ITFA in?
ITFA's product category is Trade Association Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADACAF, Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) & Trade Finance Institutions. Its SIC code is 8600.