What happens when a leading bank and a fintech align around one shared goal: helping clients work smarter inside the systems they already use?
In a recent fireside chat, Lisa Shields, Founder and CEO of FISPAN, and Jo Jagadish, Head of Digital Banking, Payments, and Contact Center, TD Bank U.S., reflected on how their partnership has evolved — and what it reveals about the future of commercial banking. Their conversation offers a clear lesson: innovation only matters if it delivers real, practical value to clients.
Why did TD and FISPAN choose to embed banking directly into ERP systems?
Executives at middle-market companies don’t think about banking in isolation. They manage their businesses inside enterprise resource planning (ERP) and accounting platforms — systems where decisions are made, cash positions are reviewed and payments are executed every day.
TD’s philosophy is simple: Be present where customers already are. By partnering with FISPAN, TD brings cash management and payment capabilities directly into clients’ ERP environments, removing the need to jump between systems and making day-to-day work simpler and faster.
For FISPAN, embedding banking inside ERP systems isn’t just a feature — it’s the core of the business. This partnership allows TD to extend its digital banking capabilities into the commercial client’s daily workflow, creating a more seamless and intuitive experience.
What problem were clients actually trying to solve?
Early assumptions focused on improving underwriting, data access and internal bank efficiencies. But once TD and FISPAN began meeting clients together, a different — and far more fundamental — need emerged.
Clients weren’t asking for incremental improvements. They were asking a much simpler question: “Where is our cash — across all of our organization’s banks?”
Many middle-market businesses operate with multiple banking relationships and limited technical resources. They don’t have large IT teams or budgets for complex integrations. What they value most is clear, real-time visibility into their cash and solutions that don’t require heavy technical effort to implement.
This insight reshaped the partnership’s focus — from internal or theoretical benefits to practical, day-to-day value.
How does embedded banking create measurable value for companies?
When banking tools live inside ERP systems, efficiency gains become immediate and measurable.
One example shared during the discussion involved a large industrial company that reduced the time spent on payment processing from six hours down to one. That time savings doesn’t just improve operations — it frees teams to focus on higher-value work that supports the business.
For TD relationship managers, these outcomes change the conversation. Instead of leading with product lists, they can show clients exactly how specific changes improve cash flow, reduce risk and save time. The result is a more advisory, outcomes-focused relationship grounded in real outcomes rather than abstract features.
Why are bank–fintech partnerships beneficial?
Technology alone doesn’t make a partnership successful. Both Lisa and Jo emphasized that how solutions are brought to clients is where many bank–fintech relationships succeed — or fail.
Banks like TD offer business customers a full suite of products and solutions including credit, payments, deposits and advisory services. Fintechs, by contrast, often focus deeply on a specific capability. Aligning these perspectives takes time, trust and constant recalibration.
The TD × FISPAN partnership works because both teams are aligned around the same objective: helping clients become more efficient in their businesses. That alignment empowers relationship managers with the confidence, incentives, and insights they need to bring embedded banking solutions to clients in a meaningful way.
What does the future of embedded banking look like?
Looking ahead, both leaders see data and AI playing a critical role — but not in the way many expect.
The future isn’t about collecting more data. It’s about secure, real-time sharing of data between banks and ERP systems, enabling richer insights at the moment decisions need to be made. As this two-way flow of information matures, TD can help clients move from raw data to clear, actionable insights — whether that’s improving working capital, reducing operational risk or navigating external market pressures.
Generative AI further accelerates this shift, making it possible to personalize insights at the individual client level rather than broad segments. The ultimate goal: deliver the right information, to the right person, at exactly the right time.
As Lisa said, the ambition is clear — turning accounts payable and receivable professionals into working capital heroes. It’s a vision grounded not in hype, but in the real outcomes already being delivered today.
Final takeaway
This partnership shows that meaningful innovation in commercial banking happens when technology, trust, and client needs intersect. By embedding banking directly into ERP systems, TD and FISPAN are redefining how banks support clients — moving from standalone transactions to integrated insights, and from tools to true partnership.
We hope you found this helpful. This article is for informational purposes only and is based on information available as of June 2026 and is subject to change. This content is not intended to be used or acted upon with respect to any client's specific circumstances. For specific advice about your unique circumstances, consider talking with your qualified professionals.
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