NatWest Partners with Cleareye.ai to Automate Trade Finance

NatWest has entered into a partnership with Cleareye.ai to automate parts of its trade finance operations.

The agreement will see the bank deploy ClearTrade, a platform that uses AI to process trade documentation and run compliance checks.

This comes as financial institutions are moving towards automated systems to manage the paperwork that supports international commerce in a shift could reduce manual workloads and speed up transaction processing.

Automating the back office

As part of the agreement, NatWest will implement ClearTrade, Cleareye.ai’s core platform.

The solution applies advanced AI to extract and categorise critical data from trade documentation, processing both digital files and traditional paper-based formats.

In addition to document handling, the platform will carry out automated checks in line with International Chamber of Commerce rules.

These rules serve as globally recognised standards designed to simplify, govern and standardise cross-border trade, commercial transactions and dispute resolution.

By transitioning away from manual review processes towards automated workflows, the bank expects to accelerate document processing while reducing administrative friction.

Strengthening crime controls

The integration also addresses financial crime risk.

ClearTrade will perform automated compliance screening and Trade Based Money Laundering checks, enabling NatWest to enhance oversight and reduce operational exposure.

Michael Gilham, Trade Product Lead, Commercial and Institutional at NatWest, says: “As Britain’s biggest business bank, we’re focused on giving customers the confidence to seize growth opportunities. 

“This partnership will help them trade in foreign markets with greater speed and certainty, while enabling our colleagues to deliver a more personalised and productive service.

“It will also strengthen protection against fraud and financial crime, by using innovative technology to enable us to provide better service to our customers.

“As we embrace leading, innovative technologies, we remain committed to harnessing them responsibly – enhancing customer experiences while strengthening our risk and control environment.

“At every stage, we will prioritise the safety, trust and wellbeing of our customers and colleagues.”

Scaling business outcomes

For banks managing high volumes of international trade, manual compliance processes remain a major operational bottleneck.

The adoption of intelligent automation enables financial institutions to scale transaction volumes without a corresponding increase in risk or back-office costs.

Mariya George, CEO and Co-Founder of Cleareye.ai, adds: “NatWest is leading the way in reimagining trade finance, and we are proud to support their innovation journey.

“ClearTrade is purpose built to deliver both automation and compliance outcomes and we are excited to help NatWest unlock scalable impact for their teams and their clients.”

The agreement signals a broader shift across commercial banking to futureproof trade operations.

Michael emphasised that adopting such technologies requires a balance between efficiency and security, ensuring customer trust is preserved as automated risk controls are embedded.

Meanwhile, Mariya highlights that the platform is specifically designed to address both compliance and automation simultaneously, tackling two of the most significant operational challenges facing trade finance functions today.