Baltimore, March 8,
2005 --- David Cooke, Vice President &
Manager International Trade Finance Group with M&T Bank was selected as one of only
seven winners for this year's Maryland International Business Leadership Awards. The award is presented to an individual within a
Maryland company who has led their company to new global heights, demonstrating an
entrepreneurial spirit, determination, creativity and the cultural sensitivity that global
business demands.
M&T's International Trade Finance Group headed by David Cooke has developed
international banking capabilities that rival those of the largest banks in the U.S. Indeed, in fiscal years 2003 and 2004, M&T
Bank initiated more export financing with the support of the Export Import Bank of the
U.S. than any other bank in the world, totaling 175 loans for more than $230 Million. The vast majority of the Ex-Im bank loans were
made to foreign buyers of equipment and systems produced by small and medium-sized
businesses. Most of those sales would not have closed, had the loans not been made. In 2004, under David's leadership, M&T Bank
won the prestigious President's "E" Award for Excellence in Exporting from the
U.S. Department of Commerce.
David Cooke has been in Banking for 32 years, 23 of them involving business in
international markets. M&T Bank’s
International Trade Finance Department was originally established in the early 1900's as
the Foreign Department of the First National Bank of Maryland, in order to service the
needs of customers who exported and imported through the Port of Baltimore, one of the
oldest and largest ports in the U.S. Under the leadership of Charles Cole and Fred Meier,
this business line matured to include lending to corporate affiliates of U.S.
multinationals, and a subsequent expertise in Trade Finance. Following the name change of First National to
Allfirst, M&T Bank acquired the bank in 2003. M&T’s
executive management recognized the value of Trade Finance products to their New York and
Pennsylvania customers, and decided to have Trade Finance for the entire $52 billion
franchise led by the team in Baltimore.
David Cooke holds a Degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a Masters in Finance from Loyola College. Of M&T’s management level Trade Finance
officers, 13 have over 15 years experience in the business.
David characterizes the 50-member International Trade Finance Group as
“motivated professionals who know their business and know how to please our
customers.”
In addition to providing international banking services, M&T Bank is a substantial and
long-time supporter of Maryland's major international trade organizations. David Cooke chairs the Maryland-Jalisco Sister
State Committee as well as the Trade Finance Committee of the Bankers Association for
Finance & Trade. Senior members of his
staff are Board members of the District Export Council, the International Financial
Services Association, the Maryland-Anhui (China) Sister State Committee, and the
Maryland-China Business Council.
David is married, with four children and is active in the community with the Partners in
Excellence program for inner city schools of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.