Runtime Controls: Manage Financial Systems with Precision

When you're running a business, runtime controls, live, automated rules that govern how money moves within your systems. Also known as real-time financial controls, they're the invisible guardrails that stop overspending, block fraud, and keep cash flow healthy—without slowing things down. Think of them like a smart thermostat for your finances: you set the limits, and the system enforces them automatically, 24/7.

These controls don’t exist in a vacuum. They’re powered by tools like virtual cards, digital payment cards issued instantly for specific vendors, amounts, or time periods, and procurement cards, company cards with built-in spending rules for everyday purchases. When you issue a virtual card for $500 to a freelancer, the system blocks any attempt to spend more—even if someone tries to reuse the card number. Same with procurement cards: if your policy says marketing spend can’t exceed $2,000/month, the system shuts down any transaction that pushes past that limit. No approvals needed. No manual checks. Just control, built in.

And it’s not just about blocking bad spending. Runtime controls give you visibility. Real-time dashboards show you exactly where money’s going—down to the penny, in real time. That’s why SMBs using these systems cut bookkeeping time by half and avoid cash shortages before they happen. They also tie directly into compliance. If you’re in fintech, you need to track every transaction for AML rules. Runtime controls log everything automatically, turning what used to be a compliance nightmare into a clean audit trail.

What you’ll find below are real-world examples of how these controls work. From how top neobanks lock down spending with virtual cards, to how small businesses use procurement cards with ironclad policies, to how embedded finance platforms build controls into every transaction—you’ll see exactly what’s possible when money doesn’t run wild. No theory. No fluff. Just what works today, in actual businesses.