IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/intfin/v105y2025ics1042443125001192.html

Do FinTech Acquisitions Affect Banks' ESG Performance? Evidence from Global M&As

Author

Listed:
  • Cicchiello, Antonella Francesca
  • Foroni, Cristian
  • Monferrà, Stefano
  • Torluccio, Giuseppe

Abstract

This study investigates how mergers and acquisitions (M&A) involving FinTech companies influence the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance of acquiring banks. Using a global sample of 105 M&A deals completed by banks worldwide between 2009 and 2023, our findings indicate that FinTech acquisitions tend to enhance banks’ ESG performance. However, this effect is not immediately observable, manifesting only in the fifth year post-acquisition. To refine the analysis, we match banks that engaged in FinTech acquisitions with similar banks that did not, controlling for pre-acquisition characteristics. This approach reveals a positive and significant effect on environmental (E) and overall ESG scores starting from the third year, with social (S) scores showing significant improvement as early as the first year post-acquisition.

Suggested Citation

  • Cicchiello, Antonella Francesca & Foroni, Cristian & Monferrà, Stefano & Torluccio, Giuseppe, 2025. "Do FinTech Acquisitions Affect Banks' ESG Performance? Evidence from Global M&As," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:intfin:v:105:y:2025:i:c:s1042443125001192
    DOI: 10.1016/j.intfin.2025.102229
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1042443125001192
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.intfin.2025.102229?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ioannis Tampakoudis & Evgenia Anagnostopoulou, 2020. "The effect of mergers and acquisitions on environmental, social and governance performance and market value: Evidence from EU acquirers," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(5), pages 1865-1875, July.
    2. Hsiang-Lin Chih & Hsiang-Hsuan Chih & Tzu-Yin Chen, 2010. "On the Determinants of Corporate Social Responsibility: International Evidence on the Financial Industry," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 93(1), pages 115-135, April.
    3. Francesco Fasano & Tiziana Rocca, 2024. "Does the bank-firm human relationship still matter for SMEs? The game-changing role of digitalization," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 62(1), pages 159-178, January.
    4. Thakor, Anjan, 2020. "Corrigendum to: Fintech and Banking: What Do We Know?," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 43(C).
    5. Gomes, Mathieu & Marsat, Sylvain, 2018. "Does CSR impact premiums in M&A transactions?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 71-80.
    6. Victor Chang & Patricia Baudier & Hui Zhang & Qianwen Xu & Jingqi Zhang & Mitra Arami, 2020. "How Blockchain can impact financial services – The overview, challenges and recommendations from expert interviewees," Post-Print hal-04314462, HAL.
    7. Cappa, Francesco & Collevecchio, Francesca & Oriani, Raffaele & Peruffo, Enzo, 2022. "Banks responding to the digital surge through Open Innovation: Stock market performance effects of M&As with fintech firms," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    8. Tchamyou, Vanessa S. & Erreygers, Guido & Cassimon, Danny, 2019. "Inequality, ICT and financial access in Africa," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 169-184.
    9. Aracil, Elisa & Nájera-Sánchez, Juan-José & Forcadell, Francisco Javier, 2021. "Sustainable banking: A literature review and integrative framework," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 42(C).
    10. Austin, Rebekah E. & Dunham, Lee M., 2022. "Do FinTech acquisitions improve the operating performance or risk profiles of acquiring firms?," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    11. Yury Dranev & Elena Ochirova & Rainer Harms & Mikhail Miriakov, 2023. "Assessment of Interorganizational Technology Transfer Efficiency," Foresight and STI Governance, National Research University Higher School of Economics, vol. 17(3), pages 20-31.
    12. Chang, Victor & Baudier, Patricia & Zhang, Hui & Xu, Qianwen & Zhang, Jingqi & Arami, Mitra, 2020. "How Blockchain can impact financial services – The overview, challenges and recommendations from expert interviewees," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    13. Wu, Meng-Wen & Shen, Chung-Hua, 2013. "Corporate social responsibility in the banking industry: Motives and financial performance," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(9), pages 3529-3547.
    14. Clément de Chaisemartin & Xavier D’Haultfœuille, 2023. "Two-way fixed effects and differences-in-differences with heterogeneous treatment effects: a survey," The Econometrics Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 26(3), pages 1-30.
    15. Mirza, Nawazish & Umar, Muhammad & Afzal, Ayesha & Firdousi, Saba Fazal, 2023. "The role of fintech in promoting green finance, and profitability: Evidence from the banking sector in the euro zone," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 33-40.
    16. Fung, Derrick W.H. & Lee, Wing Yan & Yeh, Jason J.H. & Yuen, Fei Lung, 2020. "Friend or foe: The divergent effects of FinTech on financial stability," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    17. Hainmueller, Jens, 2012. "Entropy Balancing for Causal Effects: A Multivariate Reweighting Method to Produce Balanced Samples in Observational Studies," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 20(1), pages 25-46, January.
    18. Yahia, Nadia Ben & Chalwati, Amna & Hmaied, Dorra & Khizer, Abdul Mohi & Trabelsi, Samir, 2023. "Do foreign institutions avoid investing in poorly CSR-performing firms?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    19. David J. Teece & Gary Pisano & Amy Shuen, 1997. "Dynamic capabilities and strategic management," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(7), pages 509-533, August.
    20. Lee, Chi-Chuan & Li, Xinrui & Yu, Chin-Hsien & Zhao, Jinsong, 2021. "Does fintech innovation improve bank efficiency? Evidence from China’s banking industry," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 468-483.
    21. Koranteng, Barbara & You, Kefei, 2024. "Fintech and financial stability: Evidence from spatial analysis for 25 countries," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    22. Francesco Gangi & Antonio Meles & Eugenio D'Angelo & Lucia Michela Daniele, 2019. "Sustainable development and corporate governance in the financial system: Are environmentally friendly banks less risky?," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(3), pages 529-547, May.
    23. Ohsung Kwon & Sangmin Lim & Duk Hee Lee, 2018. "Acquiring startups in the energy sector: a study of firm value and environmental policy," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(8), pages 1376-1384, December.
    24. Zheng, Hao & Mao, Mike Qinghao, 2024. "Fintech mergers and acquisitions," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    25. Sangki Lee & Insu Kim & Chung-hun Hong, 2019. "Who Values Corporate Social Responsibility in the Korean Stock Market?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-14, October.
    26. Daud, Siti Nurazira Mohd & Ahmad, Abd Halim & Khalid, Airil & Azman-Saini, W.N.W., 2022. "FinTech and financial stability: Threat or opportunity?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 47(PB).
    27. Ayse Demir & Vanesa Pesqué-Cela & Yener Altunbas & Victor Murinde, 2022. "Fintech, financial inclusion and income inequality: a quantile regression approach," The European Journal of Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(1), pages 86-107, January.
    28. Georgios A. Panos & John O. S. Wilson, 2020. "Financial literacy and responsible finance in the FinTech era: capabilities and challenges," The European Journal of Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(4-5), pages 297-301, March.
    29. Barros, Victor & Verga Matos, Pedro & Miranda Sarmento, Joaquim & Rino Vieira, Pedro, 2022. "M&A activity as a driver for better ESG performance," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    30. Sun, Liyang & Abraham, Sarah, 2021. "Estimating dynamic treatment effects in event studies with heterogeneous treatment effects," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 225(2), pages 175-199.
    31. Inna Romānova & Marina Kudinska, 2016. "Banking and Fintech: A Challenge or Opportunity?," Contemporary Studies in Economic and Financial Analysis, in: Contemporary Issues in Finance: Current Challenges from Across Europe, volume 98, pages 21-35, Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
    32. Wang, Yang & Xiuping, Sui & Zhang, Qi, 2021. "Can fintech improve the efficiency of commercial banks? —An analysis based on big data," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    33. Mathieu Gomes & Sylvain Marsat, 2018. "Does CSR impact premiums in M&A transactions?," Post-Print hal-01671217, HAL.
    34. Yang, Junhong & Wu, Yu & Huang, Bihong, 2023. "Digital finance and financial literacy: Evidence from Chinese households," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    35. Bert Scholtens, 2009. "Corporate Social Responsibility in the International Banking Industry," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 86(2), pages 159-175, May.
    36. Baker, Andrew C. & Larcker, David F. & Wang, Charles C.Y., 2022. "How much should we trust staggered difference-in-differences estimates?," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 144(2), pages 370-395.
    37. Zhou, Yang & Yang, Manfang & Gan, Xu, 2023. "Education and financial literacy: Evidence from compulsory schooling law in China," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 335-346.
    38. Boone, Audra & Uysal, Vahap B., 2020. "Reputational concerns in the market for corporate control," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    39. Goodman-Bacon, Andrew, 2021. "Difference-in-differences with variation in treatment timing," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 225(2), pages 254-277.
    40. Karim, Sitara & Lucey, Brian M., 2024. "BigTech, FinTech, and banks: A tangle or unity?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    41. Franklin Allen & Xian Gu & Julapa Jagtiani, 2021. "A Survey of Fintech Research and Policy Discussion," Review of Corporate Finance, now publishers, vol. 1(3-4), pages 259-339, July.
    42. Rajeev H. Dehejia & Sadek Wahba, 2002. "Propensity Score-Matching Methods For Nonexperimental Causal Studies," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 84(1), pages 151-161, February.
    43. Laeven, Luc & Levine, Ross, 2009. "Bank governance, regulation and risk taking," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 93(2), pages 259-275, August.
    44. Huan Tang, 2019. "Peer-to-Peer Lenders Versus Banks: Substitutes or Complements?," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 32(5), pages 1900-1938.
    45. Dranev, Yury & Frolova, Ksenia & Ochirova, Elena, 2019. "The impact of fintech M&A on stock returns," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 353-364.
    46. Peter Gomber & Jascha-Alexander Koch & Michael Siering, 2017. "Digital Finance and FinTech: current research and future research directions," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 87(5), pages 537-580, July.
    47. Ding, Jinxiu & Li, Lingxue & Zhao, Jinsong, 2024. "How does fintech prompt corporations toward ESG sustainable development? Evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    48. Cuadros-Solas, Pedro J. & Cubillas, Elena & Salvador, Carlos, 2023. "Does alternative digital lending affect bank performance? Cross-country and bank-level evidence," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    49. Lee, In & Shin, Yong Jae, 2018. "Fintech: Ecosystem, business models, investment decisions, and challenges," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 61(1), pages 35-46.
    50. Ninon Kohers & Theodor Kohers, 2000. "The Value Creation Potential of High-Tech Mergers," Financial Analysts Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(3), pages 40-51, May.
    51. Lars Hornuf & Milan F. Klus & Todor S. Lohwasser & Armin Schwienbacher, 2021. "How do banks interact with fintech startups?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 57(3), pages 1505-1526, October.
    52. Deng, Xin & Kang, Jun-koo & Low, Buen Sin, 2013. "Corporate social responsibility and stakeholder value maximization: Evidence from mergers," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 110(1), pages 87-109.
    53. Mohammad Jizi & Aly Salama & Robert Dixon & Rebecca Stratling, 2014. "Corporate Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure: Evidence from the US Banking Sector," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 125(4), pages 601-615, December.
    54. Anagnostopoulos, Ioannis, 2018. "Fintech and regtech: Impact on regulators and banks," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 7-25.
    55. David Mhlanga, 2021. "Financial Inclusion in Emerging Economies: The Application of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in Credit Risk Assessment," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-16, July.
    56. Cornett, Marcia Millon & Erhemjamts, Otgontsetseg & Tehranian, Hassan, 2016. "Greed or good deeds: An examination of the relation between corporate social responsibility and the financial performance of U.S. commercial banks around the financial crisis," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 137-159.
    57. Zagorchev, Andrey & Gao, Lei, 2015. "Corporate governance and performance of financial institutions," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 17-41.
    58. Simona Galletta & Sebastiano Mazzù & Valeria Naciti & Carlo Vermiglio, 2022. "Gender diversity and sustainability performance in the banking industry," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(1), pages 161-174, January.
    59. Arouri, Mohamed & Gomes, Mathieu & Pukthuanthong, Kuntara, 2019. "Corporate social responsibility and M&A uncertainty," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 176-198.
    60. ElBannan, Mona A. & Löffler, Gunter, 2024. "How effectively do green bonds help the environment?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    61. Callaway, Brantly & Sant’Anna, Pedro H.C., 2021. "Difference-in-Differences with multiple time periods," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 225(2), pages 200-230.
    62. Murinde, Victor & Rizopoulos, Efthymios & Zachariadis, Markos, 2022. "The impact of the FinTech revolution on the future of banking: Opportunities and risks," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    63. Sheng, Tianxiang, 2021. "The effect of fintech on banks’ credit provision to SMEs: Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 39(C).
    64. Zhou, Bo & Wang, Qunwei, 2024. "FinTech matters in sustainable finance: Does it redistribute the supply of financial services?," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Drago, Carlo & Minnetti, Francesco & Di Nallo, Loris & Manzari, Alberto, 2025. "Uncovering patterns of fintech behavior in Italian banks: A multidimensional statistical analysis," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 73(PA).
    2. Pandey, Dharen Kumar & Hassan, M.Kabir & Kumari, Vineeta & Zaied, Younes Ben & Rai, Varun Kumar, 2024. "Mapping the landscape of FinTech in banking and finance: A bibliometric review," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 67(PA).
    3. Tang, Mengxuan & Hu, Yang & Corbet, Shaen & Hou, Yang (Greg) & Oxley, Les, 2024. "Fintech, bank diversification and liquidity: Evidence from China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 67(PA).
    4. Kou, Mingting & Yang, Yuanqi & Chen, Kaihua, 2024. "Financial technology research: Past and future trajectories," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 93(PA), pages 162-181.
    5. Chen, Xiaojie & He, Guangwen & Li, Qian, 2024. "Can Fintech development improve the financial inclusion of village and township banks? Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    6. Costa, Davide & Querci, Francesca & Santulli, Rosalia, 2025. "Competition or cooperation? Disentangling the Bank-FinTech interaction through a hybrid literature review," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    7. Guo, Junyan & Fang, Hanqing & Liu, Xuexin & Wang, Cizhi & Wang, Yuan, 2023. "FinTech and financing constraints of enterprises: Evidence from China," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    8. Choudhary, Priya & Thenmozhi, M., 2024. "Fintech and financial sector: ADO analysis and future research agenda," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    9. Guo, Pin & Zhang, Cheng, 2023. "The impact of bank FinTech on liquidity creation: Evidence from China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    10. Pham, Dung Thi Ngoc, 2026. "The nonlinear fintech-financial stability nexus in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East: When institutional quality and financial efficiency matter," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    11. Barros, Victor & Verga Matos, Pedro & Miranda Sarmento, Joaquim & Rino Vieira, Pedro, 2022. "M&A activity as a driver for better ESG performance," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    12. Peón, David & Antelo, Manel & Sun, Yanfei, 2024. "Market competition and strategic interaction in the Spanish FinTech industry," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(PB).
    13. Ao, Zhiming & Ji, Xinru, 2025. "Strategic cooperation in fintech field and efficiency of commercial banks," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    14. Beretta, Valentina & Cotta Ramusino, Enrico & Demartini, Maria Chiara & Bagna, Emanuel, 2025. "Exploring the intersection of sustainability performance and M&A activity: A review of the literature," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    15. Zheng, Hao & Mao, Mike Qinghao, 2024. "Fintech mergers and acquisitions," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    16. D'Souza, Reagan & Ho, Choy Yeing (Chloe) & Yang, Joey W., 2024. "The cost of corporate social irresponsibility for acquirers," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    17. Baomin Chen & Xinyun Yang & Zhenzhong Ma, 2022. "Fintech and Financial Risks of Systemically Important Commercial Banks in China: An Inverted U-Shaped Relationship," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-20, May.
    18. Bai, Min & Shen, Luxi & Li, Yue & Yu, Chia-Feng (Jeffrey), 2024. "Does legal justice promote stakeholder justice? Evidence from a judicial reform in China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    19. Sant'Anna, Dário A.L.M. & Figueiredo, Paulo N., 2024. "Fintech innovation: Is it beneficial or detrimental to financial inclusion and financial stability? A systematic literature review and research directions," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    20. Jost, Sébastien & Erben, Saskia & Ottenstein, Philipp & Zülch, Henning, 2022. "Does corporate social responsibility impact mergers & acquisition premia? New international evidence," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 46(PA).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility
    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:intfin:v:105:y:2025:i:c:s1042443125001192. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/intfin .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.