The Payments Newsletter: March 2025

Welcome to this month’s Payments Newsletter! We’re excited to share some great insights with you, and we hope you find them helpful. If there’s anything specific you’d like to know more about, don’t hesitate to drop us a comment. Enjoy reading!

A CTO's Technology Outlook for 2025

In this podcast, our host interviews Eve Aretakis , the Chief Technology Officer of Bottomline, about the major technological advancements that will impact B2B payments in 2025. We discuss the key tech priorities for business payments, the benefits and risks associated with AI, the value of integrating and embedding payment technologies, and the ongoing challenges of fraud prevention. Listen here.

Q&A: Revolutionizing Business Payments with Receivables Automation

Accounts receivable (AR) automation—also known as receivables automation—is transforming the collections process through innovative invoicing and reconciliation features. In this Q&A, Bottomline Product Director Kush Shah discusses the advantages of AR automation as a crucial component of a modernized payments solution. Read the full interview here.

2025 Commercial Banking Market Outlook Report

Alex Singla , a senior partner at McKinsey & Company , makes an important point: “Speed is often a strategy in and of itself. Those who move faster will win over time.” This is echoed in Bottomline’s 2025 Market Outlook Report for Commercial Banking, which highlights just how important speed has become in today’s banking landscape. The report outlines six trends to watch out for, including ISO 20022, advancements in AI, and the rising significance of data analytics. These trends present fantastic opportunities for banks to thrive and help their corporate clients succeed. Read the report here.

Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Payments Redecorate with Digital

The commercial real estate (CRE) sector is beginning to recover after five challenging years, and some exciting changes are occurring in payment processes. The pandemic severely impacted CRE, leading to vacant office buildings and empty retail spaces while also exposing vulnerabilities such as check fraud. The good news is that improvements are being made. Enhancing payment efficiency is crucial for the industry's recovery. By adopting digital solutions, CRE has a great opportunity to emerge even stronger. Read this article to learn more.

Embedding a B2B Payments Network into Digital Banking

ACH payments are commonly used in B2B transactions, but have you explored the benefits of combining digital banking with private B2B payment networks? In this episode of the Payments Podcast, Bottomline's Jessica Cheney discusses how this innovative approach can enable businesses to access advanced features through a single, easy-to-use automated platform. Listen here.

Using Stronger AML Measures to Combat Insider Threats

As concerns about anti-money laundering (AML) increase, it is crucial for financial institutions to take proactive measures to address potential insider threats. Fortunately, advancements in technology are making it easier to detect internal involvement in money laundering activities. To avoid hefty fines and protect their reputations, banks should consider strengthening their AML programs. In this article, we share valuable insights from Albert Laino, a Risk Solutions Consultant at Bottomline, on enhancing AML programs. Read it here.

Turn Budgets into Business Value: How Legal Spend Management Empowers CLOs

Chief Legal Officers (CLOs) face significant challenges in managing costs and strategic priorities, especially with tightening budgets that make it harder to justify legal expenses. This can hinder their ability to obtain quality legal counsel and invest in useful technology.

However, effectively managing legal spending can turn these challenges into valuable opportunities, enhancing business value and aligning legal departments with organizational goals. As we look toward 2025, optimizing budgets and improving operational efficiencies will be crucial for CLOs. Alfredo Luxardo from Bottomline shares helpful insights on this topic in this article.

Events and Webinars for your Diary

We're here to help you navigate the ever-changing payments landscape. Whether you're looking to keep up with payment regulations, learn smart fraud prevention strategies, or find ways to optimize your payment processing, we’ve got your back. Check our upcoming in-person events and free webinars here.