NatWest, the UK’s largest business bank, has announced a strategic tie-up with Cleareye.ai, an AI specialist focused on trade finance, to modernise how it handles trade operations and manages financial crime risk.
At the centre of the collaboration is ClearTrade, Cleareye.ai’s AI-powered platform, which will be deployed across NatWest to automate the extraction and classification of data from trade documents — whether submitted digitally or in paper form. The system will also carry out automated document checks in line with International Chamber of Commerce rules, which set globally recognised standards for cross-border commercial transactions and dispute resolution.
Beyond streamlining document-heavy workflows, ClearTrade will perform compliance checks and Trade Based Money Laundering (TBML) screening, two areas that carry significant regulatory weight in international trade. By embedding these controls into automated processes, NatWest aims to reduce operational risk while at the same time improving the quality and speed of service it provides to clients.
Cleareye.ai develops AI solutions specifically designed for the trade finance sector. Its ClearTrade platform is built to serve banks and financial institutions looking to bring greater automation and compliance rigour to complex trade operations. The company’s technology is aimed at handling a wide range of trade documentation types and running the checks that underpin safe, compliant cross-border transactions.
The partnership is described as a component of NatWest’s broader transformation agenda, with the bank stating that operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and scalable innovation are central to that strategy.
NatWest trade product lead, commercial and institutional Michael Gilham said, “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.”
Cleareye.ai CEO and cofounder Mariya George said, “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.”
Copyright © 2026 FinTech Global
