By PYMNTS | October 12, 2026
Forty-two percent of corporate finance departments deploy a stack of three or more artificial intelligence (AI) tools to secure their outgoing payments, according to the PYMNTS Intelligence and Bottomline collaboration “Prevention First: Building a Smarter Defense Against Payments Fraud.”
This adoption reflects a broader evolution in how businesses safeguard capital against sophisticated financial crimes without sacrificing transaction speed. Companies that embrace layered security create an environment where daily operations run smoothly while fraud attempts are stopped in their tracks, ensuring long-term financial stability and trust.
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The PYMNTS Intelligence report examines detailed survey data gathered from 150 treasury and finance executives across major corporate sectors. It reveals how persistent challenges like supplier impersonation emails and manual workflow burdens require renewed safeguards. Organizations embracing integrated defense strategies can discover new ways to protect their cash flow while enhancing daily operational efficiency and strategic decision-making.
Think of corporate security like a helmet, with AI software working alongside traditional account verification to protect every transaction from unexpected impact. Companies pair automated risk scoring with multi-person approval workflows to catch suspicious wire transfers before unauthorized funds leave their corporate bank accounts. Treasury teams leverage trusted supplier records and real-time bank account validation services to confirm payee identities instantly during vendor onboarding and payment execution.
Beyond advanced technology software stacks, the report highlighted that 35% of businesses still encounter traditional check fraud, and 78% grapple with tedious manual reconciliation tasks. Yet the economic outlook remains bright. With 58% of non-adopting firms planning to implement new detection tools within 12 months and 75% of equipped organizations looking to expand their security investments, corporate finance leaders are proving that proactive modernization builds a secure foundation for lasting commercial growth.
By modernizing payment rails and strengthening supplier relationships, businesses can turn potential vulnerabilities into lasting operational strength while keeping global commerce moving smoothly. Furthermore, executive teams report high satisfaction with these digital safeguards.
At PYMNTS Intelligence, we work with businesses to uncover insights that fuel intelligent, data-driven discussions on changing customer expectations, a more connected economy and the strategic shifts necessary to achieve outcomes. With rigorous research methodologies and unwavering commitment to objective quality, we offer trusted data to grow your business. As our partner, you’ll have access to our diverse team of PhDs, researchers, data analysts, number crunchers, subject matter veterans and editorial experts.