The Tells of Fragmented Cash: Why Manual Workload Gives It Away
By Ali Paterson · 2 October 2026
In brief: Mali Bartlett of J.P. Morgan Payments says the clearest sign of fragmented cash is manual workload: many accounts across many markets and banks, and skilled staff stitching data together to compile a picture.
| Event | Sibos 2026, Miami |
|---|---|
| Key Speaker | Mali Bartlett, J.P. Morgan Payments |
| Organisation | J.P. Morgan Payments |
| Focus | Signs of fragmented cash |
Quick Summary
Mali Bartlett, Managing Director, Liquidity & Account Solutions at J.P. Morgan Payments, says the clearest tell that a treasury team has fragmented cash is manual workload. Significant bank accounts across many markets and many banking partners, and highly skilled people spending a good part of the day stitching data together to compile a picture, are the signs to watch for.
Is fragmented cash always obvious to a treasury team?
Not necessarily, and the question is whether there are signals a team can rely on. Bartlett says there are some tells right from the start, and oftentimes it really is just the manual workload.
What are the tells?
She points to a lot of fragmentation: significant bank accounts in many markets across many banking partners. As a result, a decent part of the day, and highly skilled resources at that, goes on stitching data together to compile a picture.
Bartlett says many organisations face this challenge, and J.P. Morgan Payments can come in to help support them on that journey.
FF NEWS TAKE:
A useful self-diagnosis for any treasury team: if your best people spend the morning assembling data rather than acting on it, that is the tell. It is a simple test, and it is the same one that links every clip in Bartlett's interview, from visibility to automation.
Frequently asked questions
How can a treasury team tell it has fragmented cash?
Mali Bartlett says the clearest tell is manual workload. Teams with fragmented cash typically have significant bank accounts across many markets and many banking partners, and spend a decent part of the day compiling a picture of their position.
What does manual workload look like in treasury?
Bartlett describes highly skilled resources spending much of the day stitching data together in order to compile a picture of cash. She says many organisations face this challenge.
Who can help treasury teams with fragmented cash?
Bartlett says J.P. Morgan Payments can come in to help support organisations on that journey, working with teams that are dealing with fragmentation across many accounts, markets and banking partners.
Part of our Sibos 2026 coverage.