Running treasury operations through mobile devices hardly sweptthrough the industry like wildfire when it was introduced fouryears ago by banks like Wells Fargo. But the number of banks withmobile offerings has now reached critical mass, and strategies areshifting.

“The initial focus of banks and treasury management systems wastransaction review and approval by mobile device,” says LaurieMcCulley, a managing director at consultancy Treasury Strategieswho regularly works with corporate technology installations. “Butwhat treasury users really want and what the vendors are nowintroducing is reporting from the treasury management system—adashboard that is readable on a mobile device and shows liquiditypositions and risk exposures.”

Bank of America Merrill Lynch makes its mobile debut this yearwith select features that fit mobile devices and the executives whouse them, rather than opening a mobile connection to its onlinebanking platform, reports Cindy Murray, B of A's head of globaltreasury product infrastructure, platforms and ecommerce. The bankplans three 2011 releases, which will all be compatible with Apple,Google and BlackBerry tablets and smaller mobile devices. Userswant a select menu that is tailored to workflows, Murray says. B ofA's program is organized around the decisions that mobile usersmake—such as unlocking users, resetting passwords, changingentitlements and receiving positive pay alerts—and exactly whatthey need to execute those decisions with just a couple of clicks,she explains.