- Treasury management is the set of services businesses use to collect, move, protect and manage cash.
- It helps credit unions win operating accounts, grow business deposits and earn fee income.
- A successful program needs products, policies, trained people and a sales and onboarding process.
Treasury management, sometimes called cash management, is the set of financial services businesses use to run their money day to day. For a credit union, it is how you move from holding a business member's savings to holding their operating account, the account where payroll runs, customers pay and bills go out.
What treasury management includes
- ACH origination: send payroll, pay vendors and collect payments electronically.
- Wire transfers: move large or time-sensitive payments the same day.
- Positive pay: stop check and ACH fraud before it posts.
- Remote deposit capture: deposit checks from the office with a scanner or phone.
- Lockbox: outsource receivables processing so payments land faster.
- Sweeps and insured deposits: keep large balances safe and productive.
- Merchant services, commercial cards and payroll: offered through trusted partners.
Why treasury management matters for credit unions
Business members who use treasury services tend to keep higher balances, consolidate accounts and stay longer. That makes treasury management one of the most effective ways to grow business deposits and fund commercial lending.
One Midwest credit union we work with grew business deposits 372% in three years and added more than 300 commercial members using treasury services. Another grew commercial deposits from $30 million to $150 million over five years.
What it takes to launch a program
- Product lineup and pricing that fit the businesses you serve.
- Policies and risk controls, including exposure limits, underwriting for ACH and wires, and vendor management.
- Technology that integrates with your core and digital banking platform.
- Trained people who can spot business needs and sell consultatively.
- Onboarding and support so new business members are live quickly and stay happy.
Build it yourself or partner?
Some credit unions build in house, hiring a treasury team and assembling vendors themselves. Others partner with a CUSO that provides the expertise, process and people. Our guide to outsourced treasury management compares the two.
Frequently asked questions
Is treasury management the same as cash management?
The terms are often used interchangeably. Both describe the services businesses use to collect, move, protect and manage cash.
Do credit unions offer treasury management?
Yes. A growing number of credit unions offer treasury management to win business operating accounts and grow commercial deposits.
What is the first treasury service to offer?
ACH origination and remote deposit capture are common starting points, with positive pay added early for fraud protection.