In late November 2025, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) unveiled groundbreaking research highlighting the capabilities of AI agents in cash management, significantly shaking up the financial sector. The potential for artificial intelligence to automate complex financial tasks has long been a topic of discussion, but this research shifts the narrative from possibility to practicality. With the growing need to manage liquidity with precision, the use of AI is no longer a far-off dream; it’s here.
Here’s the unique part, not only can AI handle vast amounts of data, but it’s now demonstrating the capacity to perform high-stakes cash management tasks with little to no domain-specific training. As an entrepreneur who pays close attention to how emerging technologies intersect with fundamental business processes, I recognize the urgency in exploring what this means for startups, freelancers, and enterprises managing financial flows.
Banking and AI: A Match in the Making
Managing money is a delicate mix of strategy, timing, and precision. Traditionally, central banks and major financial institutions relied on seasoned professionals to balance liquidity, minimize delays, and manage operational risks. For example, real-time gross settlement (RTGS) systems require decisions made on the spot to handle payments as they occur. Multiple variables like liquidity levels, market demands, and even unexpected economic shocks need to be accounted for. This was often seen as a task only possible for experienced human judgment.
According to BIS's study, however, AI models equipped with basic training and processing capabilities can now successfully manage these operations. They tested ChatGPT's reasoning features with scenarios involving tight deadlines, competing priorities, and fluctuating liquidity. The AI managed to prioritize payments, maintain necessary reserves, and reduce bottlenecks without losing focus on time-sensitive needs. For entrepreneurs, this suggests AI can potentially optimize cash flows at scale, leaving more room for strategic focus elsewhere.
Why You Should Care
The results of the BIS research are not just good news for global financial heavyweights. Even bootstrapped startups and small businesses stand to benefit. Here's why this is a big deal for us:
- Cost Control: Startups can have tight margins. Employing AI for cash management could cut down sizable operational costs while maintaining solid financial accuracy.
- Accessibility: You don't need to be a big-name bank to leverage this technology. As solutions become more accessible, even small businesses can automate tasks that previously required a dedicated finance team.
- Risk Management: Missed payments and liquidity issues can sink companies. AI can step in to balance expenses, forecast shortfalls, and recommend timely actions to avoid crises.
At the end of the day, cash flow is king. Having better tools changes everything, from smarter budget allocation to understanding exactly when to scale your team or expand operations.
Who’s Leading the Charge?
Naturally, you’d wonder who’s building these AI systems. The BIS has been trialing its models in collaboration with the likes of the Bank of Canada. These organizations tested the idea with real-world scenarios and demonstrated that off-the-shelf AI could outperform older rule-based systems. Tools like ChatGPT were employed for simulations where liquidity buffers, payment priorities, and settlement speed were balanced efficiently.
Other organizations are catching on. Startups in fintech, like OpenAI-backed tools and cloud-based service platforms, are positioning themselves to package these systems for broader use. If you’re plugged into financial technologies for your business, then this is your reminder to keep tabs on these developments.
How to Start Leveraging AI-Driven Cash Flow Management
If you’re considering offering AI a trial period in your business operations, here’s a simplified guide:
- Assess Financial Workflow: Identify repetitive or time-intensive financial tasks like payment prioritization, reconciliation, or transaction monitoring.
- Pick a Suitable Tool: Research platforms currently available. Since tools may vary in capabilities, consider software that allows payment simulations to match your scale and complexity.
- Integrate Gradually: You don’t need to overhaul your system overnight. Start implementing AI for tasks like generating daily or monthly cash flow forecasts.
- Monitor & Calibrate: Just like any solution, AI will deliver better results if you monitor its performance and refine it over time. Pay attention to areas where it might need support or context.
- Pair AI with Expertise: Remember, even though AI is capable, pairing it with human oversight ensures it aligns with your unique business goals.
Startups can also benefit from tools like small business lending platforms and expense management systems integrated directly with AI. They can free up entrepreneurs’ resources to focus on growth rather than fretting over liquidity.
Most Common Mistakes in Adopting AI for Financial Tasks
There’s always a learning curve with new technology. These are some pitfalls I see often, and they’re easily avoided:
- Blind Trust: Treating AI outputs as gospel is a common mistake. Always validate its recommendations against your business reality.
- Ignoring Context: What works for a large bank may not apply to your small business or startup. Make sure you understand the assumptions behind AI models.
- Skimping on Training: Allocate time to learn how to use the tools effectively. A well-trained team will be confident during implementation phases.
Going Beyond Compliance to Potential
The idea of automated cash management powered by AI will naturally call regulatory conversations into play. For startups in fintech or companies reliant on cross-border transactions, keeping an eye on such developments will be a smart move. Doing so will ensure you’re ahead of any and all compliance headaches.
What excites me, as an entrepreneur, is the prospect of turning cash management from a tedious task into a strategic advantage. Well-used, AI won't just save time but might also uncover savings or efficiencies you didn’t even know were possible.
The path forward isn’t completely mapped yet, but that’s the beauty of being a startup or a small business. We can be nimble, experiment quickly, and adapt well before large corporations figure things out and turn them into industry standards. If the BIS research is anything to go by, smart businesses, big and small, should be looking at how this tech can strengthen their financial management before competitors catch up.
FAQ
1. What did the BIS research discover about AI in cash management?
The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) found that general-purpose AI agents, such as ChatGPT, could successfully perform routine cash management tasks, like managing liquidity and prioritizing payments, often replicating human expertise even without domain-specific training. Read more about BIS's findings
2. How was the study on AI agents conducted?
The BIS researchers used prompt-based experiments with ChatGPT’s reasoning model, simulating scenarios such as liquidity shocks and competing priorities, to test how well AI agents manage cash in RTGS payment systems. Explore the BIS Working Paper 1310
3. What is the major advantage of using AI in cash management?
AI offers the potential to automate high-stakes cash-management tasks, leading to cost reductions and improved efficiency in intraday liquidity management for businesses. Learn more about the implications of BIS research
4. Can small businesses benefit from these AI advancements in cash management?
Yes, the technology is becoming increasingly accessible, meaning even startups and small businesses can leverage AI for tasks like payment prioritization and liquidity management without needing large finance teams.
5. Which financial systems did the BIS research focus on?
The study focused on real-time gross settlement (RTGS) payment systems, which are critical in managing high-value transactions for banks and financial institutions. Dive into RTGS systems powered by AI
6. Are there specific tools or platforms available for AI cash management?
The BIS research utilized ChatGPT, a generative AI model. Fintech companies like OpenAI-backed platforms are working on packaging these solutions for widespread use.
7. What precautions should businesses take when adopting AI for financial operations?
Businesses should avoid blindly trusting AI outputs, should validate recommendations, provide adequate training, and ensure their solutions align with their unique contexts.
8. Are there other organizations involved in AI cash management research?
Yes, the Bank of Canada collaborated with BIS for the testing, and other fintech startups are actively developing AI-based financial solutions. Check out the Bank of Canada’s work on this topic
9. What could be the regulatory challenges with using AI for financial management?
As AI takes on bigger roles in cash management, questions around compliance and policy safeguards will likely arise, and businesses should stay informed on regulatory developments. Learn more about policy discussions in BIS’s working paper
10. Will AI agents replace human cash managers completely?
While AI showcases impressive capabilities in cash management, pairing it with human expertise ensures better decision-making, particularly for unique, complex scenarios where human oversight is invaluable.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
