After decades of close partnership with our Transaction Banking clients on their digitalization journeys and active engagement within the global Trade Finance community, IBM officially launched the Digital Connected Trade Advisory Community (“DCTAC”) in collaboration with 10 leading Trade Finance banks on Tuesday April 7th, 2026, at IBM’s flagship office at One Madison Avenue, New York City.
DCTAC operates as a neutral, industry-led advisory body, providing a secure and trusted collaboration forum where senior trade finance banking executives can work together to advance industry-wide digital transformation. The group operates under the auspices of the IBM Financial Services Cloud Council, a global community of over 150 financial services institutions, technology partners, and regulators committed to innovation, security, and resiliency in financial services.
Mission Statement:
DCTAC is a community-of-practice of senior leaders in Trade Finance advancing industry interests and aspirations by:
- Fostering collaboration and peer exchange
Convening a unique environment for networking, knowledge sharing, and cross-institutional dialogue to shape the future evolution of the Trade Finance industry.
- Driving digital and technological leadership
Serving at the forefront of understanding, evaluating, and responsibly applying emerging technologies—including agentic AI, blockchain, digital assets, hybrid cloud architectures, and advanced automation—to enable a more transparent, efficient, resilient, and inclusive Trade Finance ecosystem.
- Accelerating responsible digital transformation
Championing pragmatic, scalable, and use‑case‑driven digitalization across Trade Finance, ensuring innovation is aligned with regulatory expectations, risk management principles, and client value creation.
- Strengthening security, governance, and compliance standards
Advancing best practices for cybersecurity, data governance, model risk management, and compliance in the adoption of new technologies—including AI and FinTech partnerships—to enhance trust across the Trade Finance value chain.
Through industry collaboration, thought leadership, and practical experimentation, DCTAC claims to accelerate the modernization of Trade Finance, reduce friction and risk, and support sustainable global trade in an increasingly digital and interconnected world.