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Fintech, bank concentration and commercial bank profitability: Evidence from Chinese urban commercial banks

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  • Li, Linwen
  • Gao, Wei
  • Gu, Wanhong

Abstract

This article empirically examines the non-linear relationship and moderating effect between fintech, bank concentration and commercial bank profitability using unbalanced panel data of 131 urban commercial banks in China from 2010 to 2021. The results show that the relationship between fintech and commercial bank profitability exhibits a non-linear relationship of inhibition followed by promotion. Bank concentration has a negative moderating effect on the impact of fintech on commercial bank profitability, and fintech has a crowding-out effect on banks' profits as bank concentration rises. The findings of this paper help to respond to the current debate on fintech and traditional banking.

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  • Li, Linwen & Gao, Wei & Gu, Wanhong, 2023. "Fintech, bank concentration and commercial bank profitability: Evidence from Chinese urban commercial banks," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:57:y:2023:i:c:s1544612323006062
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2023.104234
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Khan, Habib Hussain & Kutan, Ali M. & Qureshi, Fiza, 2024. "Fintech integration: Driving efficiency in banking institutions across the developing nations," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 67(PA).
    3. Dong, Hao & Zheng, Yingrong & Tang, Yuhong, 2024. "Impact of FinTech on the industrial structural transformation: Evidence from China's resource-based cities," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    4. Wu, Chen & Dong, Zhiyong, 2025. "Robo-advisory services and bank risk: Evidence from Chinese commercial banks," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 86(PA).
    5. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Zhang, Xiaoli & Lee, Chi-Chuan, 2024. "Does climate change matter for bank profitability? Evidence from China," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    6. Yudi Yang & Fan Yang & Xiajie Yi & Dongwei He, 2025. "How FinTech affects financial sustainability: Evidence from Chinese commercial banks using a three-stage network DEA-Malmquist model," Papers 2511.02608, arXiv.org.
    7. Japan Huynh, 2025. "Digital Transformation and Bank Liquidity Creation: Evidence From a Bank-Based Market," SAGE Open, , vol. 15(4), pages 21582440251, October.
    8. Changzheng Zhang & Yuchao Wang & Yanbing Zhang, 2025. "Can digital transformation improve commercial banks’ performance?," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 50(4), pages 1341-1362, August.
    9. Zhang, Xudong & Li, Zhihui, 2025. "FinTech: The disruptive force reducing bank competition pressure," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    10. Areej Hijazin & Nemer Badwan, 2026. "The Impact of Financial Technology Development (FinTech) on the Profitability of Conventional and Islamic Banks Listed on the Palestine Stock Exchange," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 17(1), pages 138-168, February.
    11. Chai, Yuanzhe & Sun, Suchao, 2024. "Can the development of Fintech mitigate non-performing loan risk?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 67(PB).
    12. Li, Taoying & Peng, Mengyin & Zhang, Jianjiang & Zheng, Long & Chen, Qiang, 2024. "Legal environment and natural resource dependence: The role of fintech and green innovation in China," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    13. Hodula, Martin, 2024. "Beyond innovation: Fintech credit and its ripple effects on traditional banking profitability," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).

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