The Initial Risk Check is an automated pre-screening stage that runs at the very start of a new credit application workflow — before the applicant is ever asked to complete any application form.

Its purpose is to surface any early risk indicators so that the credit team can review the situation and decide on the best course of action before any applicant-facing step is triggered.

ⓘ Key point: Think of this as an internal checkpoint — the applicant never sees it. It gives your team the opportunity to act before committing to a full application process.

It runs automatically as Step 1 of the credit application workflow, immediately after the workflow is initiated. The sequence is:

Trade Shield runs 6 preliminary risk checks based on your organisation’s configured policy:

ⓘ Tip: Each check will display a green tick (passed) or a red cross (flagged) on the Initial Risk Check screen, along with a plain-language explanation.

When one or more checks fail, the application is not automatically rejected. Instead, it is flagged and routed to the credit team for a human decision. The team has three options:

⚠ Note: Comments are mandatory when changing the credit facility details or choosing to decline. This creates an audit trail and ensures accountability across the credit team.

When the Initial Risk Check raises a flag, a notification is sent to the credit team. The credit team is then responsible for reviewing the results on the Initial Risk Check screen and taking the appropriate action before the workflow can move forward.

ⓘ Tip: If you are unsure whether your account is set up to receive these notifications, contact your Trade Shield administrator to confirm your team’s notification configuration.

The credit team can adjust the Credit Facility Details directly on the Initial Risk Check screen before deciding to proceed. Editable fields include:

• Requested Credit Limit — the currency and amount can be updated
• Payment Terms — the repayment period (e.g. 30 Days, 60 Days) can be adjusted

These changes are applied to the application before the applicant ever sees it, allowing the credit team to right-size the offer based on the risk profile revealed during the check.

Yes. The Decline Application button is always available on the Initial Risk Check screen, whether or not checks have failed. If the credit team decides the risk is too high — or for any other business reason — the application can be declined here without the applicant ever being contacted.

A comment explaining the reason for the decline is required before the action can be submitted.

ⓘ Tip: Declining at this stage is a clean exit — no application is sent to the applicant, and no communication reaches them. This keeps your process professional and avoids unnecessary contact.