THE NEW TREASURY FRONTIER
Top business drivers and banking needs of corporate treasurers
Foreword
The treasury services and transaction banking landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace. BNY commissioned the following Datos Insights research to provide a view into some of the shifting priorities and challenges faced by corporate treasurers worldwide. As organizations navigate a complex environment marked by rapid technological change, regulatory evolution and heightened security concerns, this research highlights the critical business drivers shaping treasury strategies today.
One of the standout findings is the growing importance of embedded finance to enable wider distribution of instant 24/7 financial services across the value chain. Corporates are increasingly seeking partnerships that blend the strengths of traditional banks with fintech innovation, particularly in automating payment reconciliation — a function now entrusted to fintech providers by over half of respondents. At BNY, we recognize that collaboration is key. Our approach is to develop API-driven embedded finance solutions that empower clients with seamless integration and maintain their control, while leveraging fintech capabilities to enhance efficiency and innovation.
Cross-border payments remain a core focus for corporate treasurers, with traditional banks still dominating this space. However, the research underscores persistent challenges such as manual processes and currency risk. BNY is committed to modernizing cross-border infrastructure by connecting client solutions to faster payment networks globally and exploring emerging technologies like distributed ledger and stablecoins to supplement these solutions. These efforts aim to reduce friction, accelerate settlement times and provide treasurers with better tools to manage FX exposure and liquidity globally.
The New Treasury Frontier
New research from Datos Insights examines the top business drivers and banking needs of corporate treasurers as they navigate a complex business environment marked by rapid technological change.
Download Full Report file_download93%
of corporations plan payments technology investment in the next 2-3 years
40%
of corporations use fintechs for access to real-time payments
90%
of corporations still use their primary financial institution for cross-border payments
The rise of open banking is another transformative trend, and we see how our clients are benefiting from the convenience that open banking enables. With adoption of account-to-account payments expected to reach 72% in 2025, treasurers are beginning to realize the benefits of providing a seamless consumer experience to obtain trusted data, facilitating real-time payments for many billers and service providers. BNY is advancing our open banking capabilities through enterprise-grade APIs that deliver secure, scalable and seamless connectivity
— enabling our clients to harness the full potential of real-time payments and data-driven decision-making.
"The findings reveal a corporate treasury function at an inflection point, where strategic technology adoption is accelerating dramatically in some areas while institutional expertise maintains its dominance in others."
- Enrico Camerinelli, Datos Insights
HOW CORPORATIONS ARE SCALING WITH AI
50%
of midsize and large organizations use AI-based applications for their banking and payments operations
57%
say increased operational efficiency and automation in banking and payment processes is a top motivation for implementing generative AI
On the frontier of innovation, generative AI is moving beyond experimentation and fully taking hold as a practical application within the financial services industry. The Datos research highlights the shift toward human-in-the-loop AI programs that augment treasury operations and drive measurable productivity gains. At BNY, we are integrating AI thoughtfully to support our teams and clients alike, enhancing risk management, liquidity forecasting and operational efficiency while maintaining rigorous oversight.
Finally, fraud mitigation remains a top priority as payment fraud increasingly occurs beyond traditional bank controls. BNY has always recognized that security and resiliency are the foundation of establishing trust with and for our clients as we continuously expand our fraud prevention framework to encompass comprehensive, end-to-end solutions that protect corporate clients from evolving threats. We prioritize combining advanced analytics, real-time monitoring and collaborative industry partnerships to safeguard financial assets.
In summary, the Datos Insights research captures a pivotal moment for treasury services — one defined by collaboration between banks and fintechs, accelerated digital transformation and a relentless focus on security and client empowerment. BNY is proud to be at the forefront of these developments, delivering innovative, resilient and client-centric solutions that help treasurers and those that serve them meet today’s challenges and seize tomorrow’s opportunities.