Instant Payments in Europe: Who Inspires and What Hinders?

The growing adoption of instant payments across Europe marks a significant shift, driven by SEPA harmonisation and the introduction of the Instant Payments Regulation (IPR). But for corporates, instant payments are not an end in themselves. Antoine Bourgier, Head of Payment & Cash Management Solutions, Societe Generale, reveals how this world is developing

Live from the conference floor of Treasury 360° Nordic 2026 in Gothenburg, Sweden! Candid insights and hot takes from 5 treasury and finance leaders, unpacking the rise of real-time and programmable treasury, AI-powered finance teams, next-gen risk management, and much more. Tune in to hear a fast-paced snapshot of how Nordic treasury is evolving into strategic, tech-enabled business partners.

As digital assets mature, treasurers are reassessing their relevance beyond experimentation. Societe Generale's Geneviève Douhet, Director of Digital Assets Programs, Global Transaction Banking, and Floor Meeuwis, Director of Liquidity and Virtual Account Management Advisory, Global Transaction Banking, join Stéphanie Cabossioras, Chief Strategy & Global Policy Officer, Societe Generale-FORGE (SG-FORGE), in examining what digital money can realistically deliver for treasury, and why regulated, bank issued stablecoins may represent a tangible solution.

As the TMI Awards 2026 Best Bank for Trade & Supply Chain Finance: North America, MUFG demonstrated its deeply collaborative approach to working capital optimisation. Its winning entry – an innovative early payment programme delivered with a major North American corporate – helped its client strengthen supplier liquidity while maintaining financial control. In the company of the bank's Greg Hurst, Managing Director, Head of Origination, Working Capital & Trade Finance, and Mark Timoney, Managing Director, Working Capital & Trade Finance, we explore how other corporates can begin a journey towards working capital optimisation.

Between ISO 20022, APIs and now AI, treasury has more data and connectivity than ever, at an ever-increasing speed. But will these tools truly change how the industry operates, especially alongside more advanced setups like in-house banks? Lena Myklebust (Equinor) and Christof Hofmann (Deutsche Bank) explore what real-time treasury looks like in practice and what needs to change inside a complex corporate environment.

Money Market Strategies for Operational Resilience In today's higher rate, more volatile trading environment, treasurers need practical, actionable strategies for managing corporate cash. Amundi's Stéphanie Akhal, Head of Sales Liquidity - Europe, and Patrick Siméon, Head of Money Market, explain the increasingly significant role of MMFs in stabilising liquidity and capturing attractive short term yields while avoiding undue credit or duration risk.

"Get your hands dirty." That is not a command usually heard inside the HQ of a major bank, but it was one of the main messages for the audience at ING's Orange live – The Future of Payment event. Here, Annelinda Koldewe, ING's Head of Payments and Cash Management reflects on the bank's recent flagship webinar.

Corporate cash management is entering a more dynamic phase. AI is sharpening how treasury interprets data, while tokenisation is beginning to reshape how cash and investments move. Real-time visibility and connected platforms are opening new possibilities, but the advantage will sit with teams able to integrate systems, trust their data, and act with confidence.

APAC's trading vibrancy is sometimes tested by cross-border payment inefficiencies. Bank of America's Serina Hourican, APAC Global Commercial Sales Head, Phil Carmalt, APAC Product Head, and Baris Kalay, APAC Corporate Sales Head, examine the challenges and the transactional FX options available to lock certainty, accelerate cash, and reduce operating costs.

AI adoption in treasury is rapidly accelerating, 3/4 of organisations are currently expanding their AI usage, mainly for forecasting, fraud detection, and reconciliation, though maturity remains low across most firms. Referencing findings from PwC's latest Global Treasury Survey, Robin Page (TMI) and Naman Kuwadia (PwC) discuss the rise of agentic AI and 'digital workforces' that integrate across treasury systems to automate processes, enhance decision-making, and break down silos. Framing AI as an augmentation tool, Kuwadia highlights how treasurers can drive greater efficiency, strengthen risk control, and shift their focus toward strategic insight, governance, and higher-value business partnering.