New BAFT, BIAN, and IBM Study Examines How Evolving Technologies are Changing Trade and Supply Chain Finance
WASHINGTON, D.C. – BAFT (Bankers Association for Finance and Trade), the Banking Industry Architecture Network (BIAN), and the IBM Institute for Business Value , today released Corporate Banking Beyond the Transaction, new research examining how corporate banks and their clients are navigating rapid changes across trade and supply chain finance.
The global study, based on surveys of 500 CFOs and treasurers and 250 corporate bankers, finds that corporate clients increasingly want greater control over how they access and manage banking services, shifting the point of engagement toward digital platforms and technology-enabled models. A majority (57%) of corporate CFOs and treasurers surveyed prefer either a dynamic orchestration model, in which AI enables near-real-time management of payments, liquidity, treasury operations and financing needs, or a platform-first ecosystem model, in which multi-bank digital platforms serve as the primary interface for financial services. As corporate clients increasingly leverage technology and transactions become more commoditized, banks face a growing need to redefine their role. The research identifies an opportunity for bankers to become trusted partners in intelligence, risk and execution, with AI and tokenization integrated into business and operating models and embedded within clients’ trade and supply chain finance workflows.
“Corporate banking stands at an important inflection point as clients gain greater control over how and where they consume financial services,” said Tod Burwell, BAFT President and CEO. “The findings emphasize the opportunity for banks to deepen their role as strategic partners to corporate clients. By combining financial expertise with emerging technologies, banks can create new sources of value while remaining central to the way businesses manage trade, liquidity and risk.”
The research also highlights an opportunity for banks to take a more expansive approach to AI. While banks continue to invest in AI, fewer than 20% of banking executives surveyed identify revenue generation as the primary outcome of AI adoption, with most focused on automation, cost reduction and risk management.
At the same time, tokenization and payment stablecoins could reshape the economics of corporate banking. Seventy-two percent of bankers surveyed expect stablecoins to improve efficiency in clients’ treasury and finance operations, while 75% of surveyed corporate clients expect lower transaction costs. The study finds that banks’ role in emerging tokenized ecosystems could influence where those benefits ultimately accrue.
Corporate Banking Beyond the Transaction explores these shifts and outlines how banks can respond as corporate clients adopt new technologies and seek greater control over financial services.
Study Methodology:
The IBM Institute for Business Value, in cooperation with Oxford Economics, conducted two global surveys in June and July 2026. The research included 250 senior corporate banking executives from banks across 29 markets with more than $10 billion in assets and 500 CFOs and senior finance leaders from organizations that use corporate banking services.
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About BAFT (Bankers Association for Finance and Trade)
BAFT is the leading global industry association for international transaction banking. Bringing together financial institutions, service providers, and the regulatory community, BAFT provides thought leadership, advocacy, education, and a platform for collaboration to promote sound financial practices that foster innovation, efficiency, and commercial growth. The association engages in a broad range of issues affecting transaction banking, including trade finance, payments, and compliance, helping members navigate a rapidly evolving global landscape. For more information about BAFT, visit baft.org, or follow BAFT on X (Formally Twitter), LinkedIn, and YouTube.
About the IBM Institute for Business Value
The IBM Institute for Business Value, IBM’s thought leadership think tank, combines global research and performance data with expertise from industry thinkers and leading academics to deliver insights that help business leaders make informed decisions. For more information, visit www.ibm.com/ibv. To receive more insights, subscribe to the IdeaWatch newsletter: https://ibm.co/ibv-ideawatch.