Demand for AI-led treasury and foreign exchange tools is rising among companies in Asia-Pacific, Bank of America said, citing discussions at its client forums in Singapore.
More than 250 corporate and financial institution executives attended the Treasury Leaders Summit and FI Forum, where discussions focused on treasury, trade, payments, liquidity and currency management as businesses respond to volatile markets and more complex cross-border flows.
The shift comes as the Asia-Pacific payments market reaches an estimated USD 18 trillion in transaction value, prompting companies and financial firms to reassess how they manage cash, payments, and risk across the region.
Bank of America has run the two forums for more than 15 years. Organised by its Global Payments Solutions team, the events bring together corporate treasurers, banks, asset managers and insurers to discuss changes in transaction banking and liquidity management.
At the centre of the discussions was the use of data and artificial intelligence in treasury and payment systems. Clients are seeking tools that provide real-time visibility over cash positions, help manage liquidity and improve reconciliation processes, the bank said.
Its existing platforms include CashPro and Intelligent Receivables, which support cash management, payments processing and receivables matching for clients operating across multiple markets.
The lender also pointed to its wider technology budget, which it said exceeds USD 13 billion annually, as part of a broader push to build digital tools for transaction banking and cross-border corporate finance.
Market conditions across the Asia Pacific have added urgency to those efforts. Companies in the region are dealing with uneven trade flows, foreign exchange volatility and shifting liquidity risks, all of which can affect working capital and funding decisions.
Those pressures are particularly pronounced for multinational groups moving funds between jurisdictions and currencies. Treasury teams are under pressure to gain tighter control over cash balances while responding faster to market moves and operational disruptions.
Winnie Chen, Head of Global Payments Solutions, Asia Pacific, Bank of America, led the Singapore events with other senior executives. She said clients want practical uses of data and artificial intelligence rather than broad concepts.
“In an environment defined by persistent volatility and structural shifts, clients are seeking insights that go beyond theory,” said Winnie Chen, Head of Global Payments Solutions, Asia Pacific, Bank of America.
“There is a clear pivot toward data and AI-driven capabilities that can help clients strengthen resilience, sharpen decision-making and deliver measurable results,” Chen said.
The comments reflect a broader shift in banking and corporate finance, as treasury functions move away from manual reporting and fragmented processes. Larger companies are investing in systems that can consolidate cash data, monitor exposures and support faster payment decisions.
For banks, that has intensified competition in transaction services, particularly in Asia-Pacific, where cross-border trade and multi-currency operations remain central to corporate activity. Providers are trying to integrate payments, liquidity, and FX products more closely into the digital systems used by treasurers and finance teams.
Bank of America said its global network and regional payments business position it well to serve those clients. It operates in more than 35 countries and serves corporate, institutional and government customers across a broad range of banking and market activities.
Singapore remains a major hub for those activities because of its role in regional treasury management, foreign exchange trading and trade finance. The city-state continues to attract multinational treasury centres, making it a key market for banks looking to expand transaction banking relationships in Asia.
Chen said the bank sees the combination of its international reach and AI-based tools as central to its offering for clients facing a more demanding market environme “t.
“Bank of America’s global platform, combined with our AI-enabled capabilities, positions us strongly to deliver seamless solutions that help clients navigate complexity and unlock growth,” Chen said.
