More than five years after the financial crisis, reforms designed to make the financial system safer are filtering down to the world of corporate treasury. Basel III capital standards are starting to affect companies' relationships with their banks, while the prospect of changes in the regulations governing money-market funds has created uncertainty around short-term investing.

"The front end of several years' worth of the regulatory hammer is flowing through the banks and reaching the treasurer's desk," said Anthony Carfang, a partner at consultancy Treasury Strategies.

He pointed out that as national regulations implementing the Basel III standards are phased in beginning next year, two parts of the standards will have particular relevance for treasuries: the leverage ratio and the liquidity coverage ratio.