The global financial services community descended upon Frankfurt from September 29 to October 2, 2025, for Sibos, the world’s premier banking conference hosted by SWIFT.
Under the theme “The Next Frontiers of Global Finance,” more than 10,000 industry leaders gathered at Messe Frankfurt to explore the transformative forces reshaping commercial banking, from artificial intelligence and digital assets to foreign exchange risk management and liquidity optimization.
Commercial Banking Insights from Sibos 2025
As previously covered in our Sibos 2025 Commercial Banking preview, TreasurUp attended this landmark event to showcase our next-generation treasury solutions and gather insights from the commercial banking sector’s most innovative minds.
The conversations, demonstrations, and strategic discussions that unfolded revealed critical trends that will define business banking’s trajectory through 2026 and beyond.
1) The AI Revolution in Commercial Banking
AI Implementation Accelerates Across Business Banking Operations
The most prominent theme at Sibos 2025 was the rapid maturation of artificial intelligence from experimental pilots to production-ready solutions. Industry leaders are moving beyond simple chatbots to deploy agentic AI systems that can independently assess risks, design products, and optimize entire value streams. This represents a fundamental shift in how banks approach AI deployment in their commercial banking divisions.
According to research from leading consulting firms, banks implementing comprehensive AI strategies are seeing measurable improvements in both efficiency and revenue generation. The focus has evolved from cost-cutting automation to revenue-generating intelligence that enhances customer relationships and drives competitive advantage.
Practical AI Applications Transforming Business Banking
Commercial banks are implementing AI across three critical areas that directly impact their business clients:
Intelligent Credit Decisionin
Banks are deploying machine learning models that analyze non-traditional data signals beyond traditional credit scores, including transaction patterns, cash flow behavior, and business operational metrics. This enables more accurate risk assessment while expanding credit access to previously underserved mid-market companies.
Automated FX and Treasury Services
AI-powered systems now provide real-time foreign exchange hedging recommendations, automatically execute trades based on predefined risk parameters, and offer predictive cash flow forecasting that anticipates liquidity needs before they arise.
Personalized Relationship Management
Advanced AI engines analyze customer behavior across all touchpoints to deliver hyper-personalized banking experiences, from customized product recommendations to proactive risk management alerts tailored to each business client’s specific industry and financial profile.
2) Stablecoins and Digital Assets: Commercial Banking’s New Infrastructure
The Stablecoin Adoption Surge in Business Banking
Stablecoins emerged as a dominant discussion topic at Sibos 2025, with 49% of financial institutions now using stablecoins for payments, and another 41% in pilot or planning phases. This represents a significant shift from theoretical exploration to practical implementation in commercial banking operations.
The regulatory clarity provided by frameworks such as the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR) and various national stablecoin frameworks has created the foundation for mainstream adoption. Banks are recognizing stablecoins as infrastructure for modernizing payments, treasury operations, and cross-border settlement services for their business clients.
Commercial Banking Applications Drive Stablecoin Growth
Corporate Treasury Management
Banks are offering stablecoin-based treasury solutions that enable 24/7 settlement, reduce cross-border payment costs by up to 80%, and provide programmable payment capabilities that integrate directly with corporate ERP systems.
Trade Finance Innovation
Digital assets are transforming trade finance through smart contracts that automatically execute payments upon delivery confirmation, reducing settlement times from days to minutes while maintaining full regulatory compliance.
Liquidity Optimization
Stablecoins enable banks to offer enhanced liquidity management services, allowing business clients to optimize working capital across multiple currencies and jurisdictions with unprecedented efficiency.
3) Foreign Exchange and Risk Management
FX Hedging Becomes Mission-Critical for Business Clients
The sustained volatility in global currency markets has elevated FX risk management from a secondary consideration to a primary strategic imperative for commercial banking clients. Corporate treasurers are increasing hedging activity significantly, with companies without formal hedging programs now actively considering implementation.
Banks are responding by enhancing their FX advisory services and developing more sophisticated hedging products tailored to mid-market businesses. The focus has shifted from simple forward contracts to comprehensive risk management strategies that incorporate balance sheet hedging, cash flow forecasting, and automated execution capabilities
Technology-Enabled FX Solutions Drive Bank Differentiation
Automated Hedging Platforms
Leading commercial banks are deploying white-label FX platforms that enable business clients to execute hedging strategies with simplified interfaces while maintaining bank-level pricing and risk controls.
Integrated Risk Analytics
Advanced platforms now combine FX exposure analysis with cash flow forecasting, providing business clients with holistic risk visibility across their entire operation.
Cross-Border Payment Innovation
Enhanced FX settlement systems reduce transaction costs and settlement times while providing real-time transparency into exchange rates and fees.
4) Liquidity Management and Cash Flow Forecasting
Banks Reimagine Liquidity Services for Business Clients
Commercial banks are fundamentally rethinking their approach to liquidity management services. Rather than offering basic cash management tools, leading institutions are developing comprehensive liquidity ecosystems that integrate cash visibility, forecasting, and investment optimization.
The shift represents a move from reactive to predictive liquidity management, where banks leverage AI and machine learning to anticipate client needs and proactively recommend optimal cash positioning strategies.
Technology-Driven Liquidity Solutions
Predictive Cash Flow Modeling
Advanced algorithms analyze historical transaction patterns, seasonal trends, and external market factors to generate accurate cash flow forecasts extending 12-18 months into the future.
Automated Investment Recommendations
AI-powered systems continuously monitor excess liquidity and recommend investment products that align with each client’s risk tolerance and liquidity requirements.
Real-Time Cash Positioning
Modern platforms provide minute-by-minute visibility into cash positions across multiple accounts, currencies, and jurisdictions, enabling more efficient working capital management.
5) Digital Transformation and Cloud Migration
Cloud-First Banking Becomes the Standard
Sibos 2025 highlighted the critical role of cloud infrastructure in enabling commercial banking innovation. Banks with hybrid cloud strategies are achieving significant improvements in return on equity while reducing operational costs.
The migration to cloud platforms is enabling banks to deploy new services faster, integrate with fintech partners more easily, and scale operations more efficiently than traditional on-premises infrastructure allows.
Core System Modernization Accelerates
Legacy system modernization emerged as a top priority for commercial banks seeking to compete effectively in the digital economy. Cloud migration significantly improves AI adoption capabilities, creating a virtuous cycle of technological advancement.
Banks are prioritizing core system upgrades that enable:
- Real-time payment processing and settlement
- API-first architecture for partner integrations
- Scalable data analytics and AI implementation
- Enhanced cybersecurity and compliance monitoring
6) The Rise of Embedded Finance and Open Banking
Commercial Banking Services Become Platform-Native
The embedded finance trend is reshaping how commercial banking services are delivered and consumed. Rather than requiring business clients to access separate banking portals, leading institutions are embedding financial services directly into the software platforms and workflows their clients use daily.
This transformation is particularly significant for mid-market businesses that rely on ERP systems, accounting software, and industry-specific platforms for their operations. Banks that successfully embed their services into these environments gain significant competitive advantages through increased usage and deeper client relationships.
Strategic Implications for Commercial Banks
Partnership vs. Competition
Banks must decide whether to compete directly with fintech innovators or partner with them to provide regulated infrastructure through Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) solutions.
API-First Development
Successful embedded finance initiatives require robust API capabilities that enable seamless integration with third-party platforms while maintaining security and compliance standards.
Revenue Model Evolution
Embedded finance creates new revenue opportunities through transaction fees, data insights, and enhanced client retention rather than traditional margin-based income.
7) Commercial Banking’s Strategic Imperatives for 2026
Technology Investment Priorities
Based on insights gathered at Sibos 2025, commercial banks should prioritize investments in:
1) AI and Machine Learning Infrastructure
Building the data architecture and analytical capabilities needed to deploy AI across all customer touchpoints and operational processes.
2) Cloud-Native Platforms
Migrating core systems to cloud infrastructure that enables rapid innovation, seamless scaling, and enhanced security.
3) API-First Architecture
Developing robust integration capabilities that enable embedded finance offerings and fintech partnerships.
4) Advanced Analytics Capabilities
Implementing comprehensive data platforms that provide real-time insights into customer behavior, risk exposure, and market opportunities.
Client Experience Transformation
The most successful commercial banks will focus on:
1) Hyper-Personalization
Leveraging AI to deliver customized experiences that anticipate client needs and provide proactive recommendations.
2) Omnichannel Integration
Creating seamless experiences across web, mobile, API, and in-person channels that maintain consistency and continuity.
3) Self-Service Capabilities
Empowering business clients to manage routine transactions independently while providing expert guidance for complex decisions.
4) Real-Time Service Delivery
Implementing systems that enable instant account opening, immediate credit decisions, and same-day settlement.
Strategic Vision from Industry Leaders
TreasurUp’s leadership team, represented at Sibos 2025 by CEO Niels van Daatselaar, Relationship Manager Remco Voormolen, and Business Development Advisor Marco Bosma, shared their perspectives on the commercial banking transformation underway.
The consensus among TreasurUp’s team was clear: banks that embrace technology partnerships while maintaining their core strengths in risk management and client relationships will emerge as leaders in the evolving commercial banking landscape.
Seizing the Commercial Banking Opportunity
Sibos 2025 in Frankfurt demonstrated that commercial banking stands at a pivotal moment. The convergence of artificial intelligence, digital assets, cloud infrastructure, and regulatory evolution is creating unprecedented opportunities for banks that can adapt quickly and execute effectively.
The institutions that will thrive are those that:
- Embrace AI as a strategic asset rather than a cost-reduction tool
- Develop comprehensive digital asset strategies that serve business client needs
- Invest in cloud-native infrastructure that enables rapid innovation
- Partner strategically with fintech innovators while maintaining core banking strengths
- Focus on client experience transformation through personalization and automation
The insights gathered at Sibos 2025 provide a roadmap for commercial banking success in an increasingly digital and competitive landscape. Banks that act on these insights quickly will position themselves to capture the significant opportunities that lie ahead.