Corporate treasurers are beginning to worry about how few banks are capable of providing a decent and reliable international cash management service. Euromoney's first annual poll of corporate users of cash management services drew detailed responses from treasurers at 129 international companies spread across 44 countries.
The results are alarming. Just two banks - Citibank and Deutsche Bank - clearly emerge as the leading providers, with HSBC, ABN Amro and JPMorgan comprising a chasing pack trailing some way behind. Our poll includes a review of the capabilities of these five leading banks in 30 key sub-sectors of cash management.
Treasurers of multinational companies are presented with a limited choice of lead banks capable of providing a global service in a core aspect of corporate treasury.
And the choice is unlikely to expand. The leading banks have invested huge amounts in the core technology supporting their cash management businesses and in devising new products and internet delivery as well as providing customer support. Corporate customers are grateful for this, though some complain that the quality of service does not always seem to reflect this heavy investment.
Even some of the world's largest banks may soon find themselves unable to maintain the high level of investment required to stay at the cutting edge in international cash management.