CFOs Use Fintech Tools to Turn Working Capital Into a Yield Strategy

Working capital has traditionally been used to cover payroll, accounts payable and short-term debt. As interest rates have risen and financial technology has matured, chief financial officers are increasingly treating idle cash as an allocable asset. They are using virtual cards, dynamic discounting and supply chain finance to defer payments, accelerate supplier receipts and generate interest income.

PYMNTS reported on March 13, 2026, citing the 2025–2026 Growth Corporates Working Capital Index produced with Visa, that mid-sized companies save an average of $19 million by improving capital efficiency. Ben Ellis, head of Visa Commercial Solutions, said on March 10 that the cash-flow unpredictability rate among lower-performing companies fell from 68% to 17% after they adopted AI to manage working capital.