SAN FRANCISCO -- Visa (NYSE:V), a global leader in digital payments, released findings from its third annual Growth Corporates Working Capital Index, based on insights from more than 1,400 CFOs and Treasurers across 10 industries and 23 countries. The data reveals a pivotal shift in how mid-sized companies around the world are approaching financial strategy: working capital is no longer just a buffer, but the new growth engine. These organizations are leveraging digital tools, AI, and cards to unlock millions in savings, turning market volatility into strategic advantage.

The research notably highlights two powerful and distinct corporate CFO and Treasurer profiles, whose behaviors are fundamentally redefining the way organizations deploy working capital solutions (WCS) across industries and regions: the Strategic Planner and the Adaptable Accelerator.

Two CFO Profiles Reshaping Corporate Finance

Adaptable Accelerators act decisively to address urgent, short-term needs using working capital solutions to manage volatility, seasonal swings and unexpected shortfalls, or to capture emerging growth opportunities. The use of corporate cards for opportunistic working capital needs has tripled year-over-year globally for this segment, sharp evidence of agility, with finance leaders now 64% more likely than last year to deploy these solutions for unplanned growth. In Asia Pacific, opportunistic WCS usage climbed sharply from 5.6% to 9%, highlighting responsiveness needed in dynamic markets.

Strategic Planners view working capital as a tool for expansion, capital investment and deepening supplier relationships, not merely as a defensive reserve. These experienced finance leaders are 32% more likely than peers to have long tenure and drive sustained value, frequently reinvesting over half of their working capital savings into product and service innovation. North America exemplifies the momentum: firms acting as Strategic Planners nearly doubled in two years (18% to 33%).

“Our 2025-2026 Index underscores that working capital management is no longer defensive,” said Lauren Hewings, Visa’s Head of Working Capital Solutioning. “Finance leaders are unlocking an average of $19 million in savings, while accelerating supplier payments and transforming receivables—and they’re doing it by tapping corporate and virtual cards combined with AI-powered insights, turning working capital into a decisive growth lever.”

Efficiency Gains & Technology Adoption

Middle market organizations are increasingly putting capital to work, unlocking an average of $19M by paying suppliers earlier, negotiating better terms and optimizing inventory management. In 2025, 58% of Growth Corporates leveraged generative and agentic AI for forecasting, workflow automation and supplier onboarding—a move that has contributed to a tripling of cash flow visibility since 2023 and delivered 66% greater savings with these solutions. Europe leads globally in AI adoption for working capital optimization, with 65% of firms now relying on AI-enhanced forecasting and cash management tools. Across regions, Index scores continue to rise: North America climbed from 51% in 2023 to 55% in 2025, while cash flow uncertainty plummeted from 21% to just 3.7%.

Corporate Cards: The Strategic Lever and Accelerator

Delayed receivables continue to cost firms an average of $18M per year, draining growth potential. Now, 53% of CFOs and Treasurers use corporate and virtual cards to reduce Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) and accelerate cash flow, with over 60% of firms in North America and Europe leveraging cards for faster settlements, streamlined workflows and robust transaction data.

Experience and Strategy Go Hand-in-Hand

Veteran CFOs are twice as likely to leverage virtual or corporate cards and 32% more likely to treat working capital solutions as a strategic growth catalyst compared to newer finance leaders. Organizations helmed by Strategic Planners consistently outperform peers on efficiency, resilience and innovation investment.

New Demands from Corporate Finance Leaders

Across regions, companies are calling for:

· Simplified digital solutions for credit and account management
· On-demand financing aligned to real-time cash flow cycles
· AI-powered forecasting and deep sector expertise from finance partners

Loan rejection rates have jumped from 4% to 27% globally, as banks lag on digital-first, tailored offerings, prompting middle-market firms to seek out providers that match their speed, flexibility and digital ambitions.

As corporate CFOs and Treasurers continue to navigate an increasingly complex and volatile financial landscape, the emergence of these distinct behavioral profiles signals a new era of working capital management: one marked by intentionality, agility and innovation. By harnessing AI, corporate cards and streamlined digital tools, finance leaders are not only optimizing liquidity but also turning working capital into a powerful driver of growth and resilience.