Exchange

 is one of the factions in Windward.

"The Exchange values only one thing: gold. Their ships carry more goods than any other organization and it is often said that without The Exchange, open trade would simply cease to exist. Ships built by the Exchange are a little bulkier than others, but their captains are known to be skilled negotiators. The assignments handed down by the Exchange tend to be focused on delivering cargo and establishing new trade routes, but will also not shy away from protecting those same routes from pirates. Exchange ships gain extra experience from trading and get a discount when buysing the Galleon."

Summary
The Exchange faction is the trading oriented faction. You start with higher gold than any other faction, and gain experience bonuses when completing trades. This also comes along with a light diplomacy boost which helps maximize profit. Additionally, exchange players get a 20% discount when buying the Galleon, a higher level support ship.