Indian treasurers turn to AI as automation tops investment agenda

Indian treasury departments are prioritising automation and AI adoption as they reposition themselves for a more strategic role, according to the EY India Corporate Treasury Survey 2025. Based on responses from 85 leaders, the survey shows that the corporate treasury function is moving beyond its traditional cash and risk management remit to focus on digitisation, talent development and operating model redesign in preparation for the treasury of 2030.

The report identifies automation as the top investment priority, with nearly half of respondents ranking it first. AI is emerging as a major driver of this shift: 82% of organisations are either planning or already progressing with adoption. Use cases include foreign exchange risk, trade finance and anomaly detection, signalling a move from experimentation to execution.

Cash forecasting is the most advanced application, with 26% of treasury teams piloting AI-led models. Other areas such as working capital optimisation remain at an earlier stage but are beginning to gain traction. EY says this adoption wave reflects treasurers’ need to address operational bottlenecks, improve accuracy and release capacity for more strategic decision-making.

The survey highlights growing recognition that treasury effectiveness requires a balance of finance and technology expertise. Almost half of respondents report a 50:50 split in their teams, while a further 35% favour a weighting toward functional skills. Many organisations are exploring modular or hybrid operating models, with 35% outsourcing technology maintenance, 25% outsourcing back-office accounting and 11% outsourcing front-office dealing. These moves are intended to allow internal teams to concentrate on strategy while reducing operational risk.

Upskilling is seen as critical to making digital initiatives successful. While domain knowledge remains foundational, technical skills such as data analysis and automation are becoming equally important. Leadership and change management are also rated highly as transformation enablers. Yet EY notes that structured upskilling is not yet embedded in most treasury career frameworks, posing a risk that digital programmes may not deliver their intended impact.

Despite the focus on AI and automation, the survey identifies several weaknesses that could hold back progress. More than 70% of departments continue to rely heavily on spreadsheets and fragmented historical data, while almost two-thirds cite weak reporting and dashboarding capabilities. EY concludes that many automation journeys are still at a relatively early stage.

The report outlines a vision of the corporate treasury function that is digitally native by the end of the decade, operating on real-time data and intelligent systems and staffed by cross-functional specialists. Success will depend on investing not only in platforms and processes but also in people. Those that make the transition, EY argues, will be better placed to anticipate risks, accelerate decisions and capture strategic opportunities ahead of their peers.

Hemal Shah, Partner and Leader for Treasury and Commodity Advisory - Risk Consulting at EY India, said the findings show treasurers “are planning or deploying AI solutions across cash forecasting, trade finance and risk management, and redesigning operating models” in response to market volatility, regulatory change and rapid digitisation.

 

AI could lift global trade nearly 40% by 2040

AI could increase global trade flows by as much as 40% over the next 15 years if governments put in place enabling policies, according to the World Trade Organization’s World Trade Report 2025. The study highlights both the potential for AI-driven productivity gains and the risks of widening inequality if gaps in infrastructure, skills and access remain unaddressed.

The report estimates that, under favourable policy and technological conditions, cross-border trade in goods and services could rise by 34-37% by 2040, with global GDP expanding by 12-13%. AI adoption is expected to cut costs, improve efficiency and accelerate the diffusion of new products and services. But the WTO warns that the benefits will not be shared equally unless action is taken to bridge the digital divide and ensure that developing economies can participate.

One key pathway lies in trade itself. By helping economies access AI-enabling goods such as raw materials, semiconductors and intermediate components, global commerce can underpin more inclusive growth. The report notes that trade in these inputs reached US$2.3tn in 2023, underscoring their strategic importance.

The analysis shows particularly strong potential gains for low- and middle-income countries if they can close part of the digital infrastructure gap with wealthier economies. In a scenario where these economies narrow the gap by half, incomes could rise by 15% in low-income countries and 14% in middle-income countries by 2040.

At the same time, the report identifies obstacles. Quantitative restrictions on AI-related goods have increased sharply, from 130 measures in 2012 to almost 500 in 2024, concentrated in high- and upper middle-income countries. Bound tariffs on AI-enabling products remain high in some low-income economies, reaching up to 45%. Such barriers risk slowing diffusion and widening divides.

The report stresses the importance of complementary policies, including investment in education, training and labour market measures, to ensure that AI adoption does not exacerbate inequality within economies. Workforce upskilling will be vital for adapting to new business models and capturing productivity gains.

The WTO also emphasises its role as a platform for dialogue on AI-related trade measures. It notes that 80 specific trade concerns raised at the organisation have already focused on AI, and that discussions on AI and inclusive trade are underway under the Work Programme on E-Commerce. Expanding participation in existing agreements such as the WTO’s Information Technology Agreement, and updating commitments under the General Agreement on Trade in Services, could also make AI technologies more affordable and accessible.

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala writes in her foreword that AI has “vast potential to lower trade costs and boost productivity” but stresses that access remains “highly uneven.” With the right frameworks, she argues, trade can play a central role in ensuring that AI works for all.

 

UK leads European fintech revival as AI reshapes market

European fintech is showing renewed strength in 2025, with the UK firmly at the centre of the recovery, according to Finch Capital’s State of European Fintech Report. The study highlights rising investment, a shift toward mid-market M&A, and accelerating use of AI across wealth management and underwriting. Fintech now accounts for a quarter of all European VC and growth investment, up from 18% in 2024. Capital invested rose 23% year on year to €3.6bn in the first half of 2025, even as deal numbers fell 32%. Transactions valued between €100m and €500m dominated activity, outnumbering deals above €500m by more than five to one, underscoring investor preference for mid-market opportunities.

The UK remains the largest and most mature fintech hub, attracting 56% of total regional funding, with 79% of deals concentrated in London. The UK also showed greater diversity, with its top two deals accounting for 45% of national funding, compared with 56% in Germany and 84% in France. Its 47% fall in overall funding was the smallest decline across Europe. Germany secured 14% of funding, led by large deals in AI-driven compliance and capital markets, while France captured 7%, supported by growth in wealthtech. France recorded more deals than Germany, with 38 compared to 27, but attracted only half the investment. The Netherlands held 4% of European funding in the first half of 2025, followed by Ireland and Poland at 3% each.

IPO activity remains a strong feature of the sector, with fintech companies making up 47% of the European pipeline. US investors continue to play a significant role, accounting for 28% of transactions involving at least one American backer.

The report also notes an abrupt slowdown in engineering hiring. Growth in R&D teams at leading fintech firms has decelerated from 20% in 2022 to a projected 2% in 2025, as firms prioritise optimisation and integration. AI is becoming more prominent, representing 21% of deal volume in the first half of 2025, though only 7% of value.

In wealth management, 48% of firms are already investing in AI to improve client experience, automate tasks and cut costs. In insurance, AI-driven underwriting has lifted value creation to 36%, compared with 10% for manual processes. By 2026, nearly 70% of lenders are expected to be piloting or scaling AI for loans, with full automation projected to cut underwriting times from 12 days to just 2.5.

 

EBA sets out OCT Inst roadmap as major banks commit to rollout

The Euro Banking Association (EBA) has published a white paper urging payment service providers (PSPs) to prepare for the adoption of One-Leg Out Instant Credit Transfers (OCT Inst), positioning the model as a key enabler of faster, cheaper and more transparent cross-border payments.

OCT Inst extends SEPA instant payment rails to cover transactions where one leg of the payment falls outside the eurozone. The EBA’s paper highlights the potential for OCT Inst to meet the G20’s 2027 targets on cost, speed, access and transparency, while also underlining the need for harmonised practices to ensure a consistent end-to-end experience. It calls on PSPs to act now, joining collaborative efforts to develop market standards and build critical mass.

That call to action was recently reinforced by EBA Clearing, which announced that 10 major multinational banks intend to build reach for OCT Inst by 2027 using its RT1 infrastructure. Barclays, BBVA, BNP Paribas, Citi, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, ING, Intesa Sanpaolo, J.P. Morgan and Société Générale, all current RT1 participants, have signalled their intention to be reachable for OCT Inst payments within the G20 timeframe.

The RT1 OCT Inst service, launched in November 2024, processes the euro leg of cross-border, cross-currency payments. By mobilising some of the largest transaction banks in Europe, EBA Clearing aims to create traction for broader adoption across the market. Other PSPs are invited to join the frontrunner group to expand reach further.

While the direction of travel is clear, both the EBA and EBA Clearing acknowledge challenges remain, from uneven digital infrastructure to the need for investment in education, compliance and corridor connectivity. Nonetheless, with strategic guidance from the EBA and concrete commitments coordinated by EBA Clearing, OCT Inst is moving closer to large-scale implementation.

 

BBVA extends instant cross-border payment reach to Spain

BBVA has launched a new service enabling financial institutions outside the eurozone to send payments to Spain in seconds, using Iberpay’s One-Leg Out Instant Credit Transfer (OCT Inst) rail. The service, offered through BBVA Directa, processes inbound orders in real time on a 24/7/365 basis. Payments are mapped to the OCT Inst standard and settled immediately, with sending banks retaining the choice of which transactions to route via the instant rail. Transfers can also be tracked end to end through Swift’s GPI Tracker.

The Spanish banking sector has been among the first in Europe to adopt OCT Inst, leveraging Iberpay’s real-time infrastructure to extend domestic instant-payment capabilities into cross-border transactions. By joining this framework, BBVA is aiming to position itself as an intermediary for international institutional clients.

The bank says the model is designed to deliver benefits for both businesses and retail customers. For corporates, BBVA highlights potential improvements in cash visibility and reconciliation, with funds credited to accounts instantly rather than subject to traditional cut-off times. The bank also points to operational advantages for treasury teams managing liquidity across time zones. Retail customers, meanwhile, are expected to see faster and more transparent transfers.

BBVA adds that no additional technical development is required on the part of sending institutions, since it handles the mapping of incoming orders to the OCT Inst standard. This could lower the barrier to entry for banks outside Europe that want to access instant settlement into Spain.

 

Surecomp partners with Finverity to expand supply chain finance offering

Surecomp has announced a strategic partnership with supply chain finance (SCF) platform provider Finverity, extending its trade finance technology into fully integrated working capital solutions for banks and non-bank financial institutions. Through Finverity’s operating system, which supports payables finance, receivables discounting and distributor finance, Surecomp’s clients will be able to offer a broader suite of SCF products directly from its DOKA-NG and RIVO platforms. This means institutions can manage both documentary trade finance and open account transactions through a single interface, while corporates gain easier access to working capital programmes.

The collaboration responds to a growing need among financial institutions to diversify beyond traditional trade instruments. By embedding SCF alongside existing services, banks can strengthen customer retention and provide corporates with faster access to liquidity, helping them navigate supply chain pressures and sustain growth.

For Surecomp, the partnership signals an evolution of its technology strategy toward end-to-end processing across trade and supply chain finance. It also reflects a wider industry shift, with corporates demanding more flexible financing models and greater integration between digital platforms.

In a separate development, UK-based Crown Agents Bank has selected Surecomp’s Trade Finance-as-a-Service (TFaaS) solution to digitise its trade operations. Specialising in FX and cross-border payments for frontier markets, the bank will deploy DOKA-NG and RIVO to streamline trade finance from origination through to settlement. The move is expected to improve efficiency and enhance the bank’s service delivery across regions including Africa and the Middle East.

 

Deutsche Bank backs creation of European defence lender

Deutsche Bank has announced its support for the establishment of the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB), a proposed multilateral lender intended to finance investment across Europe’s defence and security supply chains. The DSRB aims to achieve AAA-rated status and provide loans to allied member states, as well as guarantees on commercial lending.

The move forms part of a broader expansion of Deutsche Bank’s involvement in the sector. Earlier this year, the bank created a cross-divisional working group to pool expertise from across its product areas and coordinate engagement with public- and private-sector stakeholders.

In June, Deutsche Bank became the first financial institution to sign an agreement with the European Investment Bank under its expanded programme to boost liquidity for the defence industry. The following month, the bank hosted a defence conference in London attended by more than 200 representatives from governments, industry, investors and the military to discuss Europe’s evolving security landscape.

The bank said it remains committed to supporting EU and national initiatives aimed at strengthening defence resilience, citing the ongoing efforts of the German and UK governments to reinforce Europe’s capacity in the face of heightened geopolitical risks.

 

Visa reveals payments platform for fleet and mobility industry

Visa has launched its Fleet 2.0 programme, bringing together 15 partners across Europe to develop digital payment solutions for the fleet and mobility industry. The initiative aims to address longstanding inefficiencies in corporate fleet payments by consolidating multiple cards and systems into a single platform with real-time visibility and enhanced security.

The Fleet 2.0 card is intended to provide universal acceptance, tracking and analytics, while reducing operational complexity for fleet managers and drivers. According to Visa-commissioned research across four European markets, 77% of drivers expressed dissatisfaction with the complexity of existing payment methods, while 84% of operators reported frustration at the lack of a unified platform.

Through the new system, businesses can streamline their payment processes, expand service offerings and improve financial control. Visa said the approach will also create opportunities for technology partners to capture new revenue channels by embedding fleet payments into broader mobility services.

Partners include Cardlay, Carpay-Diem, Enfuce, Episode Six, Froda, G4S Telematix, Mynt, Nuek, Picafuel, Plan A, Pliant, ReceiptHero, Stacc, The ai Corporation and XXimo. Over the past nine months, these companies have joined Visa’s Ready for Fleet programme, which provides a framework for testing and validating new solutions to ensure interoperability and security.

 

Walmart expands B2B payment options with TreviPay

TreviPay has partnered with Walmart Business to launch an invoicing programme that gives eligible business customers access to 30-day net terms. The move comes as research commissioned by TreviPay shows 85% of business buyers prefer the option to pay on terms and are likely to purchase more when this flexibility is available. The service, available across Walmart Business’s online platform, mobile app and in-store locations, allows buyers to defer payment while receiving detailed invoices to simplify recordkeeping and procurement. For many businesses, particularly smaller firms, the ability to manage cash flow through extended payment terms is becoming an increasingly important factor in supplier selection.

TreviPay is providing the technology and automation underpinning the initiative. Its platform integrates credit assessment, invoicing and collections, with the aim of reducing manual work for merchants and giving finance teams more predictable cash flow. The approach is positioned as part of TreviPay’s broader strategy to use AI-driven underwriting and automated accounts receivable processes to support B2B commerce.

Walmart’s invoicing option is initially available to a limited group of business customers, with expansion planned over the coming months as the retailer looks to strengthen its position in the growing B2B retail market.

 

Arc launches AI-powered CFO agent following F2 spin-out

Arc Technologies has introduced Archie, an AI-powered CFO agent designed to deliver real-time financial analysis and reporting for technology companies. The launch follows the spin-out of F2 AI, Arc’s lender-facing business, enabling the company to sharpen its focus on cash management and financing tools for corporates. Archie is available immediately to Arc’s cash management customers and is built to analyse accounting, banking and spend data, with additional monitoring and custom reporting features planned by year-end. According to Arc, the platform is designed to replace many of the manual processes that finance teams face with traditional banking systems, from setting up alerts to compiling reports.

The new agent is structured around three core functions: turning raw transaction data into financial planning and analysis insights; providing proactive monitoring and anomaly detection on issues such as burn-rate or covenant compliance; and generating custom dashboards and reports for both internal use and investor communications.

Arc’s separation of F2 allows the firm to apply its proprietary AI infrastructure, already used by institutional investors, directly to company-facing workflows. The spin-out also streamlined operations and secured continued backing from investors including Left Lane Capital, NFX and Y Combinator.

The company said that by embedding AI into day-to-day finance operations, Archie aims to give executives and finance teams faster access to insights and tighter control over liquidity and planning.

 

Partior and Finteum demonstrate intraday FX swap settlement

Partior and Finteum have integrated their platforms to demonstrate how banks could trade intraday FX swaps with settlement conducted on a 24/7 Payment-versus-Payment (PvP) basis. The joint solution, supported by Adhara’s DC Commander technology, is designed to reduce settlement risk while providing banks with new tools for intraday liquidity management.

In a recent proof-of-concept, trades executed on Finteum’s intraday FX swap marketplace were automatically settled through Partior’s digital cash network, with Adhara providing the integration layer between bank systems and the trading and settlement platforms. The firms said the test showed how the capability could be adopted through a plug-and-play model for treasury and FX operations, without major infrastructure changes.

The demonstration comes as institutions face rising pressure to optimise liquidity buffers and meet intraday funding requirements. By enabling banks to swap excess balances for the currencies they need over precise timeframes, the system has the potential to help reduce idle capital, improve risk management and create opportunities in emerging intraday liquidity markets.