Treasurers are evolving, their banks must too

Treasurers are no longer just custodians of liquidity. They now shape a company’s financial resilience and strategy. They balance short-term funding needs with long-term planning, risk management, and growth.

To meet these demands, treasurers need more than basic banking services. They require real partners. What should they expect from their bankers? What makes a transactional relationship different from a strategic one?

The answers depend on the quality of support, insight, and innovation that bankers provide.

Strategic Advisory Over Salesmanship

Corporate banking relationships often focus on product pitches instead of meaningful advice. For treasurers facing complex financial decisions, this approach is insufficient.

Treasurers need strategic insight into their business model and challenges. Salespeople who only push loans or products won’t earn trust.

Instead, treasurers want relationship managers who help them anticipate risks and make informed decisions about capital allocation and financing options.

This shift is already happening. An Accenture study shows nearly 80% of treasurers now focus on enterprise value creation.

Tailored Cash Management, Not Templates

Cash is vital for every business, and treasurers manage it carefully. Their ability to optimize working capital affects the company's financial health.

However, banks often offer standardized cash management products that don’t meet specific industry needs. Treasurers deserve better solutions tailored to their operational realities.

These include automated sweeping, cash pooling for interest optimization, and real-time balance visibility through secure digital channels.

According to PricewaterhouseCoopers’ 2023 Global Treasury Survey, cash management remains the top priority for corporate treasurers worldwide.

Digital Tools That Drive Efficiency

The pandemic accelerated the shift to digital systems in corporate finance. For treasury teams, this transition enhances efficiency and control.

Manual processes are becoming obsolete as treasurers seek digital solutions for payments and reconciliations. Banks must support this shift with secure platforms integrated with internal systems.

Automation reduces operational risk and allows treasurers to focus on strategic planning. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers’ 2024 CFO Pulse Survey, 68% of CFOs prioritize treasury automation investments.

As data security concerns grow, treasurers expect banks to invest in robust cybersecurity measures.

Transparency Builds Trust

For corporate treasurers managing funds efficiently, unclear pricing is a major issue. The bank-company relationship must be transparent regarding service pricing and performance measurement.

Treasurers should receive detailed breakdowns of all banking charges to avoid unexpected fees that undermine trust. Competitiveness in terms also matters; banks should facilitate discussions about market standards.

Avoiding these conversations erodes relationships built on openness and accountability.

Responsiveness That Goes Beyond Crisis

Even advanced treasury solutions need attentive service behind them. Treasurers measure banking relationships by responsiveness during urgent situations like market shifts or liquidity crises.

Banks must ensure direct contact with experienced professionals who understand their business nuances. Proactive engagement through regular check-ins also adds value beyond crisis management.

The best banking relationships function as genuine partnerships where banks act as extensions of treasury teams.

Aligning With Environmental, Social, And Governance Priorities

Environmental considerations are now central to how businesses define risk and attract capital. As sustainability becomes crucial for boards and investors, treasury teams must reflect these priorities in financing decisions.

Banks should offer instruments like sustainability-linked loans tied to measurable outcomes while providing practical advice on aligning operations with broader ESG strategies.

Research shows an increasing role for treasury in structuring sustainable finance aligned with corporate values.

Treasureers have the right to scrutinize their banking partners' sustainability practices too.

Ethical practice is no longer optional; it’s expected.

The demands on corporate treasurers have expanded significantly alongside the support they require from banks.

This relationship is now a strategic alliance shaping financial resilience and long-term growth.

Treasurers expect insightful advisory services along with tailored solutions that align values beyond finances.

For banks, this is a call to action: adapt or risk irrelevance by focusing solely on transactions.

Those who listen will build partnerships grounded in trust and shared purpose in an increasingly sophisticated market.