A trade finance automation system includes an accounts receivable database receiving and storing invoices issued by one or more prescribed vendors for sales made to specified buyers. A credit limits database contains various credit limits applicable to buyers' accounts receivables that are subject to existing third party financing, the credit limits dictated by factors including terms of said third party financing. A credit limits tester performs substantially real time checking of buyers' invoices in the accounts receivable database to ensure compliance with the credit limits set forth in the credit limits database for said buyers.