EuroFinance 2025: AI Takes the Stage, but Core Treasury Still Reigns

From Treasury Mastertminds

This year’s EuroFinance conference was buzzing with energy — and Treasury Masterminds was there in full force as an official media partner, with nine board members attending sessions, moderating panels, and walking the floor.

If one theme stood out above all, it was clear: AI has moved from curiosity to conversation — and now to early experimentation.

“I clearly see strong interest in AI,” said Patrick Kunz, Founder of Treasury Masterminds. “My sessions on this topic were fully booked. When polling the audience, there was a noticeable shift — more treasurers are experimenting or running first use cases. Last year it was mostly about interest.”

But while AI dominated headlines and hallway chatter, the classic topics of treasury weren’t going anywhere.

“That doesn’t mean that the standard treasury topics were less in demand,” Patrick added. “Cash optimisation, working capital management, and yield enhancement for cash investments remain high on the agenda. The roundtable knowledge-sharing sessions were particularly popular — treasurers still love learning from each other.”

AI Everywhere – But Still Early Days

For many first-time attendees, the scale and scope of EuroFinance were eye-opening.

“I was amazed by the number of banks and fintechs, especially smaller ones focusing on AI and innovation,” shared Kortam Mohammed. “All the sessions were highly relevant — from working capital to digital assets and AI adoption.”

Kortam observed a growing number of practical AI solutions already in the market — particularly around cash flow forecasting, working capital optimisation, and digital payment automation. But he also noted two key challenges holding treasurers back:

  1. Limited awareness – Many treasurers simply don’t know these tools exist, or struggle to see how they can be applied practically.
  2. Operational overload – Day-to-day treasury operations often leave little time to explore innovation.

That tension — between the potential of new tech and the reality of operational focus — seemed to echo across the event.

AI, Upskilling, and the Future of Treasury Roles

AI wasn’t just about technology — it was about people.

“AI was mentioned in nearly every session — even by José Manuel Barroso in his closing remarks,” said Benjamin Defays. “Many treasurers were uneasy about what it means for their roles, but the message was clear: AI will replace tasks, not entire jobs.”

Benjamin’s takeaway was that upskilling is now non-negotiable.

“It’s time for treasurers to look at their work and identify where they add value. We shouldn’t be ashamed to say we used AI to get something done — we should foster this mindset in our teams. Learn the AI language, and teach it internally.”

Benjamin also highlighted growing interest in Fixed Term Funds (FTFs) — an investment approach offering greater control over counterparty risk — and virtual accounts, which continue to evolve but still lack clearly defined corporate use cases.

Tokenised MMFs Make a Comeback

“Adding to those comments, I was curious to see the return of tokenised money market funds,” noted Nicholas Franck. “There’s no sign of corporate adoption yet — mainly financial institutions — but their reappearance suggests the market is maturing.”

This re-emergence fits into a broader trend of digitalisation of liquidity and investments, where treasurers are increasingly looking for secure, transparent, and efficient ways to deploy excess cash.

🎙️ Live from EuroFinance: The Treasury Masterminds Podcast

One of the highlights for our community this year was hosting a LIVE podcast recording right from the EuroFinance venue, in collaboration with Nomentia.

The discussion explored the hottest conference themes — from treasury digitalisation and TMS innovation to how AI is reshaping the way treasurers work and collaborate.

“Conversations like these capture the pulse of treasury,” said Patrick. “It’s exactly what Treasury Masterminds is about — connecting experts, sharing real stories, and turning ideas into action.”

🎧 Listen to the full live recording here:
👉 Treasury Masterminds LIVE with Nomentia at EuroFinance 2025

Looking Ahead: From Awareness to Application

EuroFinance 2025 confirmed that treasury innovation is no longer a niche side conversation — it’s part of every treasurer’s strategic agenda.
But as our board’s observations show, the gap between awareness and application remains wide.

Bridging that gap is where communities like Treasury Masterminds play a role — helping treasurers share experiences, experiment safely, and translate technology into real impact.

Were you at EuroFinance 2025?

We’d love to hear your takeaways — especially your first-hand experiences with AI, digital investments, or other treasury innovations.

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