Year: No. Received, No. Processed, No. Backlog; 2015: 100,101,33;2016: 124,121,33;2017: 143,132,44;2018: 77,85,41;2019: 79,85,32;2020: 79,96,20;2021: 64,55,24;2022: 84,90,14; 2023: 118,104,22

How to File a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request

Who Can File A FOIA Request

Any person can file a FOIA request, including U.S. citizens, foreign nationals, organizations, universities, businesses, and state and local governments. Federal employees may not use government time or equipment when requesting information under the FOIA. See the FOIA Reference Guide for information on EXIM Bank’s FOIA Process. For detailed information regarding EXIM's FOIA policies and procedures, see 12 C.F.R. § 404.1, et seq.

Submission of Request

Requests may be submitted via:

How To Write A FOIA Request

All requests must be made in writing and signed by, or on behalf of, the requester.

CRITERIA

Your FOIA request for EXIM Bank records must meet the following criteria before EXIM Bank can take action:

  1. It must be in writing and include your contact information:
    • Complete name (first and last)
    • Mailing address
    • Telephone number
    • Email address
  2. Specify that you are filing a FOIA request or Privacy 
    Act Request.
  3. It must describe the records you want to request. FOIA request must include.

    • Relevant dates
    • The name of any person to whom the record is known to relate.
    • Subject matter
    • Format (if applicable)

    Please note: Requester assistance. EXIM shall make reasonable efforts to assist a requester in complying with the requirements for submission of a request. If you have only a general idea of the information you are seeking and would like assistance in formulating your request so as to describe and identify the desired records, please contact EXIM's FOIA Team at (202) 565-3248 or (202) 565-3290 and we will be happy to help. Written notice of amendment. The requester must provide any amendment to the original request in writing to EXIM.

  4. The request must contain a statement expressing willingness to pay fees (minimum of $ 25.00) for the requested records or a request for a fee waiver. Please note: a general request for records with no accompanying date restriction, either express or implied, shall be deemed to be a request for records created within the preceding twelve months.
  5. Provide additional Information (if applicable).

Fees and Fee Waivers

The FOIA permits EXIM Bank to charge fees to FOIA requesters depending on the fee category of the requester. Search fees range from about $33 to $57 per hour.

REQUESTER FEE CATEGORIES

Non-commercial requester category pay 10-cents a page for duplication; the first 100 pages are free, as are the first two hours of search time.

Educational and Non-commercial Scientific Institution pay 10-cents a page for duplication; the first 100 pages are free.

Media requesters pay 10-cents a page for duplication; the first 100 pages are free.

Commercial requesters pay for search, review time and any applicable fees.

FEE WAIVERS

Any FOIA requester may request that EXIM Bank waive all fees associated with the request. The request for a fee waiver must be submitted with the FOIA request. The FOIA Office considers fee waivers on a case-by-case basis. EXIM Bank will make its fee waiver determination based upon the information accompanying your FOIA request.

Under the FOIA, fee waivers are limited to situations in which a requester can show that the disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations and activities of the government and is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester. Also, a requester's inability to pay fees is not a legal basis for granting a fee waiver.

Record Exclusions

Congress has provided special protection in the FOIA for three narrow categories of law enforcement and national security records. The provisions protecting those records are known as "exclusions".

The first exclusion, known as the (c)(1) Exclusion, protects the existence of an ongoing criminal law enforcement investigation when the subject of the investigation is unaware that it is pending, and disclosure could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings.

The second exclusion, the (c)(2) Exclusion, is limited to criminal law enforcement agencies and protects the existence of informant records when the informant's status has not been officially confirmed.

The third exclusion, the (c)(3) Exclusion, is limited to the FBI and protects the existence of foreign intelligence or counterintelligence, or international terrorism records when the existence of such records is classified.

Records falling within an exclusion are not subject to the requirements of the FOIA. Accordingly, when EXIM responds to FOIA requests, it will limit its response to those records that are subject to the FOIA.

FOIA Contacts

Chief FOIA OfficerLisa V. Terry202-565-3195
HQ FOIA Public LiaisonLennell Jackson202-565-3290
OIG FOIA Public LiaisonJon Walz202-565-3924
FOIA Service Center202-565-3290foia@exim.gov