Co-operative Bank champions digital treasury transformation for Kenyan Corporates

Co-operative Bank of Kenya, one of the country’s leading financial institutions, today convened 100 senior finance executives at a breakfast forum focused on transforming transactional banking from cost centre to competitive advantage. This comes as corporate treasurers globally grapple with working capital pressures and rising operational costs.

The forum, held at Serena Hotel, under the theme “Leveraging Financial Technology for Operational Efficiency,” comes at a critical time when cash and liquidity management has emerged as the top priority for treasury teams worldwide, according to PwC’s 2025 Global Treasury Survey.

“In today’s high-stakes environment, manual processes and delayed reconciliations are no longer just inconveniences. They are active liabilities that erode working capital and invite risk,” said Lydia Rono, Director of Corporate & Institutional Banking Division at Co-operative Bank. “Our mission is to transform our customer’s transactional flows into a source of competitive advantage.”

The forum highlights a broader shift in Kenya’s corporate banking landscape, where digital adoption is accelerating rapidly. With 91% of Kenyan SMEs already embracing digital payments according to the Mastercard SME Confidence Index, larger corporates are now seeking more sophisticated treasury solutions to optimize cash flow and reduce operational friction.

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Kenya’s digital payments market is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.1% between 2024 and 2028, cementing Nairobi’s position as the “Silicon Savannah” and one of Africa’s top four fintech hubs alongside Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt. “What Financial Directors and CFOs truly need today is strategic financial infrastructure that provides real-time visibility and control, ensuring their liquidity is not subjected to speculation,” added Mrs. Rono.

Co-operative Bank’s Transaction Banking team showcased solutions that provide real-time visibility across cash flows, integrated payment systems with API connections to existing ERP platforms, and advanced automated reconciliation tools. The bank’s approach reflects a global trend where 67% of treasury teams in organizations with over $10 billion in annual revenues are now investing in in-house banks, while 60% are implementing payment factories to consolidate flows and improve control.

With 47.7 million mobile money subscriptions in Kenya as of June 2025 – representing 91% penetration according to the Communications Authority of Kenya – the foundation for digital financial services is firmly established. However, corporates require more sophisticated solutions than consumer-grade mobile money can provide.

“Operational efficiency today means more than just automation. Unlike in the past, when the primary use of technology was to automate services, we now support our clients in implementing technology to gain an advantage in supporting their customers through data-driven decision-making,” Mr. Charles Washika, Director ICT and Innovations at Co-operative Bank noted.

The breakfast forum forms part of Co-operative Bank’s ongoing customer engagement strategy, keeping clients informed of technological developments that impact business operations while demonstrating the bank’s commitment to delivering strategic value beyond traditional credit and deposits. Attendees included Financial Directors, Chief Finance Officers, and Managing Directors from corporate and business entities across multiple sectors.