Treasury technology 2026-2030: Data, real-time systems, and the future of digital treasury
Treasury technology is entering a new era, defined by speed, intelligence, and interoperability. As we move toward 2030, innovations like real-time data exchange, AI-driven forecasting, and digital asset adoption are reshaping how treasurers manage risk, liquidity, and governance. In this report, we explore the key trends transforming treasury operations and how to select the right tools and partners to stay ahead.
Treasury technology is entering its most transformative decade, with treasurers rethinking cash, liquidity, and risk management. As we look beyond 2025 toward 2030, corporate treasuries face a landscape defined by real-time payments, digital assets, and AI-powered decision-making. The treasurer’s role is shifting from back-office custodian to strategic business partner, driving enterprise liquidity, funding, and growth. Recent Citi research highlights this transformation: “It’s the data, stupid”. Data has become the keystone of every treasury ambition, from forecasting to liquidity optimisation. Meanwhile, the Citi GPS Treasury 2030 vision frames the future as modernise or risk irrelevance, calling on treasurers to embrace 24/7, always-on systems and bold partnerships with banks and fintechs.
In this deep dive, we explore the major forces shaping treasury technology from 2026 to 2030, the opportunities and challenges for treasury teams, and the best treasury software providers leading the way.
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Data: The bedrock of treasury innovation
Treasury priorities are converging on a single truth: data drives everything. Without clean, accessible, and standardised data, forecasts falter, automation fails, and digitalisation stalls. Citi identifies three layers of a modern treasury data strategy:
Connectivity – API-driven, real-time data exchange with banks and providers.
Systems – Treasury management systems (TMS) capable of ingesting and processing high-velocity data.
Data – Clean storage, usability, and accessibility across the organisation.
Today, many treasurers still struggle with “bad” or siloed data. Payment platforms generate valuable information, yet much of it sits inaccessible in bank systems. Moving forward, treasurers must proactively demand data openness from their banking and technology providers, aligning with global standards like ISO 20022.
Always-on, real-time treasury
The batch-driven treasury of yesterday is being replaced by always-on, 24/7 liquidity visibility, which is turning into a real competitive advantage. Citi GPS predicts that by 2030, banking days and cut-off times will be relics of the past.
Real-time treasury requires:
API connectivity with multiple banks for intraday cash positions.
Real-time forecasting and value-timing rather than value-dating.
Global liquidity structures, such as in-house banks (IHB) and virtual accounts.
Forward-looking treasuries are already piloting Regulated Liability Network (RLN) initiatives like cross-industry experiments in creating interoperable, tokenised networks for cash and liquidity.
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AI as the new treasury operating system
Artificial intelligence is no longer hype. It’s quickly becoming a core operating system for treasury management, from forecasting to fraud prevention. According to Citi, automation and AI will free treasurers from “the daily morning drudge” of manual processes, allowing them to act as chief returns and risk officers.
Key applications include:
Forecasting and analytics – AI models deliver more accurate, scenario-driven forecasts.
Fraud prevention – ML detects anomalies in payments and flags suspicious activity in real time.
Process automation – Natural language interfaces and embedded AI reduce reliance on manual workflows.
As Pearson’s Group Treasurer James Kelly notes: “Automation can make your life better. It takes away the grunt work and gives you more time to think about the value add”.
Digital assets and programmable money
Stablecoins, central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and tokenisation are reshaping how treasurers manage cross-border payments and liquidity. Citi highlights blockchain as a complementary rail to banking infrastructure, borderless, programmable, and immutable.
Potential use cases for treasurers:
Cross-border settlement with stablecoins or CBDCs, reducing costs and delays.
Programmable treasury workflows through smart contracts (e.g. automating intercompany loans).
Tokenised deposits to optimise liquidity across subsidiaries.
By 2030, leading treasuries may operate in a hybrid ecosystem of fiat, tokenised money, and digital currencies. Treasurers who start piloting policies now, whether for risk management, settlement, or compliance, will be well-positioned to lead this transition.
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ESG, cybersecurity, and partnerships: The rising treasury priorities
ESG integration
Treasury is increasingly at the centre of corporate sustainability, via green bonds, ESG-linked loans, and supply chain finance. Aligning capital structures with sustainability goals not only satisfies regulators but also enhances corporate reputation.
Cybersecurity
With faster money movement comes faster fraud. Citi research warns that AI-powered fraud attacks (e.g., deepfake CEO scams) are on the rise. Stronger payment controls, multi-factor approvals, and continuous monitoring are essential defences.
Partnerships
The Citi GPS framework adds a fifth “P”: Partnerships. Treasurers must collaborate with banks, fintechs, and technology providers to overcome siloed systems and create integrated ecosystems. In the future, treasury technology will look less like one monolithic platform and more like a galaxy of interconnected applications, orchestrated by APIs and AI.
Best Treasury Management Systems (TMS) and treasury software solutions in 2026
As treasurers modernise, choosing the right software providers is critical. Here are the leading treasury solutions for treasurers in 2026:
Kyriba – Cloud-native TMS offering cash, risk, and payments with strong AI-driven forecasting and API connectivity.
ION Treasury – Enterprise suite covering cash, liquidity, risk, and trading; widely used by large multinationals.
FIS Treasury (Quantum & Integrity) – Trusted for complex global cash and risk management.
SAP Treasury (S/4HANA) – ERP-integrated treasury module, increasingly popular as corporates migrate to S/4.
Treasury Intelligence Solutions (TIS) – Payments and liquidity visibility platform, strong in connectivity.
Treasury4 – Emerging analytics-driven provider highlighted in Citi GPS, focused on data velocity and visualisation.
Nilus – AI-powered treasury platform that enables finance teams to maximise their cash performance with real-time visibility across all accounts.
Cygnetise – A digital signatory and bank mandate management application, cutting admin time by up to 95%.
When selecting treasury software, best practice is to adopt a modular approach, combining core TMS platforms with niche providers for specialised needs (e.g. fraud prevention, bank mandate management).
Comparison of top Treasury Management Systems (TMS)
| Vendor | Strengths | Weaknesses / Challenges |
|---|---|---|
| Kyriba | Strong enterprise capabilities, multi-bank/multi-currency, good forecasting, rich feature set. Users considering it for complex environments. | Can be expensive; steep learning curve; UI/complexity can be a barrier for smaller teams. Some posts say unclear ROI vs cost. |
| GTreasury | Well-known, solid reputation, good for large/complex cash management, risk and hedge functionality. | Same as Kyriba: cost is high; features may be more than needed; integration/setup complexity can delay deployment. |
| Agicap | Very positive for usability, especially for smaller/mid-market companies. Clean UI, ease of deployment. | May lag behind in advanced features for risk/hedging or large global cash needs. |
| Trovata | Modern, cloud-oriented, good forecasting & liquidity visibility, flexible. | May require integrations for full functionality; enterprise pricing can grow quickly. |
| TreasuryView | Good onboarding for SMBs; affordable, fast to implement. | Lighter feature set; not ideal for complex or large-scale treasury operations. |
| FIS | Highly capable for large organisations; strong across cash, payments, risk, and derivatives. | High cost; long implementation cycles; reported complexity and overhead. |
| SAP / Oracle | Strong ERP integration; mature, feature-rich modules. | Expensive; heavy customisation often needed; UI and agility issues reported. |
References: G2, Reddit and Kosh
5 key takeaways from what treasury software users say that aren’t always in analyst reports
From software comparison web discussions on Reddit and G2, some practical “grassroots” concerns often don’t make it into formal comparison reports, but are very important:
Total cost vs hidden costs
Licensing is just part of the cost; implementation, training, customisation, and ongoing vendor support all add up.
Some users found that features they thought were “included” turned out to be additional modules.
Support, change requests, and roadmap transparency
How responsive is vendor support when integrating with banks or ERPs?
Users often want to know how fast bug fixes or enhancements are done.
Ease of use & learning curve
Especially for mid-market / smaller teams, intuitive UI and minimal setup are valued.
Overly complex vendors with many configuration options are sometimes seen as burdens.
Integration depth
Bank connectivity (APIs), real-time bank balance feeds, currency handling, and multi-entity accounting.
Feature necessity vs overkill
Sometimes it's better to have a lean tool, well-adapted to needed workflows, rather than a powerful “kitchen sink” that has many features never used.
Best practices for treasurers preparing for 2030
To succeed and keep up with the industry’s technological evolution, treasurers should:
Invest in data first – without a data strategy, digitalisation will fail.
Push for real-time – prioritise API adoption and connectivity with banks.
Pilot AI responsibly – automate repetitive tasks but retain human oversight.
Engage in partnerships – collaborate with fintechs and providers for innovation.
Adopt a strategic role – treasury must position itself as a growth enabler, not just a risk manager.
Conclusion
The message is clear: the treasury must modernise or risk irrelevance. Between now and 2030, successful treasurers will:
Harness real-time systems,
Embed AI at the core,
Embrace digital assets and ESG finance,
And partner with banks and fintechs to build resilient, future-ready ecosystems.
For corporations, the stakes are high. A treasury that fails to evolve risks being left behind in a 24/7, programmable world. But for treasurers willing to lead boldly, the coming years offer unprecedented opportunities to shape enterprise value.