Recognizing Excellence: The Finalists of AFP 2026 Pinnacle Awards Announced

Celebrating Innovation in Finance: AFP 2026 Pinnacle Awards Finalists

The Association for Financial Professionals (AFP) has announced the finalists for the much-anticipated Pinnacle Awards 2026. Sponsored by Truist for the third consecutive year, these awards shine a spotlight on excellence in treasury and finance, emphasizing innovative solutions that drive operational efficiency and enhance strategic decision-making.

This year, the prestigious finalists include leading industry innovators: Bandwidth, Google, and ServiceNow. The selection highlights the emphasis on technological advancements, especially the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) within financial operations.

The Role of AI in Treasury Management

A panel composed of finance and treasury professionals evaluated the submissions, focusing on how each solution reflects forward-thinking strategies that promote efficiency. Notably, all three finalists have leveraged AI to automate workflows and enable informed financial decision-making. As the financial landscape evolves, AI's role in treasury operations is becoming increasingly vital.

Bandwidth's Innovative Approach

Bandwidth has transformed its treasury management by replacing a legacy system based on manual data processes and spreadsheet analyses. They developed a custom-built, AI-native treasury platform, utilizing Atlar's real-time bank connectivity. This innovative platform provides a comprehensive view of liquidity across all business entities and banking partners. Automation within their treasury operations facilitates cash forecasting, transaction categorization, and detailed analysis of liquidity, debt, and banking fees. The transition to consolidated, real-time data has freed up valuable time for treasury staff, allowing them to concentrate on critical liquidity management and capital allocation.

Google's Automated Workflows

Meanwhile, Google has revolutionized its investment process, previously marked by manual handling, into an efficient, AI-enhanced system built upon its existing banking and ERP infrastructure. Through advanced machine-learning algorithms, Google generates daily cash forecasts, computes investable cash, and assesses liquidity outlooks. Their system evaluates potential investments based on yields, counterparty limits, and liquidity requirements, offering recommendations that streamline trade execution. This transition not only standardizes the investment process but also minimizes manual labor, significantly expediting treasury visibility into available cash and market opportunities.

ServiceNow's Data Integration Solutions

ServiceNow has tackled a significant challenge associated with fragmented data systems affecting treasury scalability. As the organization expanded its global presence, manual data collection became burdensome, consuming up to 60 hours weekly. Instead of layering AI on top of disparate data, ServiceNow proactively built a centralized treasury data architecture. This vital step unified over ten source systems into a cohesive platform for managing cash, investments, and forecasts. The implementation of real-time dashboards, a treasury chatbot for inquiries, machine-learning cash forecasting, and automated processes now empowers ServiceNow’s treasury team with unprecedented real-time insight and flexibility.

The Voting Process and Grand Prize Announcement

Voting for the Grand Prize winner is currently open until September 18, 2026, with the announcement scheduled for the upcoming AFP 2026 conference in Las Vegas from November 8-11. It’s an exciting opportunity for the treasury community to come together, vote, and celebrate innovative contributions that enhance financial operations.

According to Pat Culkin, President and CEO of AFP, “When treasury and finance leaders connect to share bold ideas and solve complex challenges, the entire profession moves forward.” This sentiment underscores the importance of recognizing organizations that pioneer transformative strategies in finance.

In tandem with the Pinnacle Award, Truist plans to make a $10,000 donation to The Just One Project in honor of the selected winner, further emphasizing the charitable spirit and community impact associated with financial excellence.

As we look forward to the grand reveal, the recognition of Bandwidth, Google, and ServiceNow underscores the dynamic nature of treasury and finance, showcasing the potential of innovation to generate meaningful business results.