Unilever

Unilever Gains Visibility Into Global Cash Management Operations With Redbridge

Unilever operates a complex treasury infrastructure across North America and Europe, spanning 24 countries and 10 currencies. Managing relationships with six global banks, the company sought improved visibility into cash management volumes and fees while ensuring pricing remained aligned with current market standards. In partnership with Redbridge, Unilever conducted a structured review that delivered recurring annual savings and strengthened long-term banking governance.

Challenge

Unilever’s treasury operations relied on six global banking partners providing a wide range of payment, collection, card, and liquidity services. While aggregate costs were known, detailed visibility into transaction volumes, fee structures, and pricing alignment by bank had not been comprehensively reassessed in recent years.

The company required a disciplined evaluation of fees charged over the preceding 12 months, alongside a review of prevailing market practices and innovative service offerings. At the same time, Unilever sought to maintain strong institutional relationships with incumbent banks while designing a fee optimization strategy grounded in accurate data and fair market benchmarks.

Solution

Unilever initiated a comprehensive cash management review and partnered with Redbridge to conduct a Full Assessment and Mapping of Banking Services across North America and Europe. This diagnostic consolidated transaction volumes, pricing schedules, and fee data across six global banks, establishing a precise baseline of costs over the previous 12 months. Redbridge worked closely with banking counterparts to ensure data completeness and accurate reconciliation by institution and service type.

Building on this foundation, the engagement introduced a Detailed Market Benchmark Across Payment Instruments and Services, including payment cards and earnings credit rate structures. Redbridge calibrated pricing against current market standards and banking best practices across countries and service categories. This benchmarking analysis enabled Unilever to evaluate both traditional fee components and innovative service offerings available within the market.

Equipped with structured data and market comparables, Unilever engaged in bilateral negotiations with each banking partner. Redbridge supported treasury leadership throughout the decision-making and negotiation process, ensuring pricing discussions remained disciplined while safeguarding long-term banking relationships. The engagement concluded with the implementation of updated pricing schedules designed to improve visibility and enable ongoing monitoring.

Results

17% Recurring Annual Savings Secured Through Bilateral Negotiations

Structured bilateral negotiations with six global banks resulted in recurring annual savings of 17% on cash management fees. The savings reflected disciplined repricing across multiple service categories rather than isolated adjustments.

Seven-Figure Value Added to the Bottom Line

The optimization initiative generated seven-figure annual value for Unilever. The financial impact strengthened treasury efficiency while reinforcing cost discipline across a multi-country banking framework.

Competitive Pricing Secured Across Core and Innovative Service Offerings

Unilever obtained competitive conditions not only on traditional payment and liquidity services but also on newer and innovative offerings. The benchmarking process ensured pricing alignment across service categories and geographies.

Optimization Opportunities Identified Across Payment Cards and Earnings Credit Structures

The review surfaced potential optimization levers in previously unchecked service areas, including payment cards and earnings credit rate structures. These insights provided treasury with additional avenues for cost and yield enhancement beyond the immediate repricing outcomes.

Enhanced Visibility and Monitoring Institutionalized Across Banking Relationships

The implementation of agreed-upon pricing schedules improved transparency into volumes and fee structures across all six banks. Unilever now operates with clearer monitoring mechanisms, supporting sustained cost oversight across its international treasury operations.