In 2002, North Fork’s Trade Finance Department made the decision to automate their Letters of Credit and Documentary Collection processing and to implement an internet based front end to provide commercial letter of credit customers with a faster and more convenient means to apply for letters of credit and retrieve needed data on their accounts. After extensive consideration given to companies specializing in this area, North Fork Bank entered into contract with China Systems (USA and Canada), Inc.

China Systems (USA and Canada), Inc., was known to North Fork Bank by name only, but was recommended highly by other banks who had either known of them, worked with them or were using some aspect of their systems. Now some 12 months since the automation process began, North Fork is fully automated and is enjoying the benefits of being able to respond more efficiently to the needs of their many Trade Finance clients. In addition to back office automation (Eximbills), North Fork Bank launched North Fork Trade Express using the Customer Access module. This has elevated processing to another level while providing the Bank’s clients with the ability to data enter requests for the issuance of Import Letters of Credit/Amendments, Shipping Guarantees and the transmission of instructions to waive and pay/accept discrepant documents.

The project began on February 3, 2005with a GAP analysis and preparation of a Project Plan that clearly documented what North Fork hoped to accomplish and where the Bank hoped to be at various benchmarks. The professionals at China Systems (USA and Canada), Inc., were well suited to the task and conducted themselves in a commendable manner. Some have commented that “the professionals at China Systems established a Project Plan and stuck to it.”

North Fork’s Trade Finance Department is pleased to have worked with professionals like Joseph Scarpelli, who headed up the automation team, Florence Tolentino and Roman Pavlyuk. They are all masters of their craft and responded timely and efficiently to any issue that arose.

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