The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) is updating its Letter of Interest (LI) process to strengthen early transaction review and improve the likelihood that LI requests move forward to completed financings. These updates allow EXIM to conduct more meaningful upfront diligence and provide applicants with clearer guidance at an earlier stage.

An EXIM Letter of Interest is a pre-export tool that indicates EXIM’s willingness to consider financing for a specific export transaction, subject to further review and submission of a formal application. As part of the LI review process, EXIM will also assess the bankability of the transaction and the likelihood that EXIM financing could ultimately support it.

LIs are typically requested during the bidding or negotiation stage of an export sale when an early indication from EXIM regarding the general eligibility of the transaction participants and the U.S. goods and services to be exported, as well as the potential viability of EXIM financing, would support discussions with buyers, lenders, or investors.

Eligible Applicants

Letters of Interest may be requested by:

  • Borrowers
  • U.S. exporters
  • Master Guarantee Agreement (MGA) lenders (EXIM partner commercial banks)

Application Fee

The application fee for a Letter of Interest is $1,000.

Minimum Application Requirements

To support EXIM’s upfront review, LI applications should include the following, as applicable:

  • Private borrowers: Audited financial statements
  • Sovereign borrowers: An outline describing how the project aligns with government priorities
  • Export finance transactions: An exporter performance statement describing the exporter’s experience, including the size, scope, and scale of relevant projects or exports
  • Transaction documentation: A business plan, investor presentation, and/or information memorandum describing the proposed transaction

Validity

The terms and conditions in an LI are valid for one year and may be renewed once for an additional year, subject to change.

An LI is not a commitment to finance a transaction or project. EXIM may request additional information as part of its review, and issuance of a Letter of Interest is at EXIM’s sole discretion.

Additional Considerations

Letters of Interest are not available for credit guarantee facilities and may be restricted for certain transactions, including those involving nuclear-related exports, as well as in other circumstances such as country conditions, economic impact considerations, or excessive transaction exposure amounts.