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Research on the impact of financial technology on risk-taking of commercial banks

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  • Li, Chengyou
  • Li, Yuxin
  • Xu, Yun
  • Sun, Guanglin

Abstract

Fintech has driven both the diversification of commercial banks' operations and increased market competition, posing challenges to their risk management. This paper selects the panel data of 154 commercial banks from 2011 to 2023 and constructs a fintech development indicator based on strategic partnerships with external fintech firms to examine its impact on banks' risk-taking behavior. The findings are as follows: (1) Fintech significantly raises the risk-taking levels of commercial banks, with the result remaining robust after various sensitivity tests. (2) The impact of fintech on risk-taking is heterogeneous. It has a more substantial effect on smaller banks compared to larger ones, and is more pronounced in regions with lower marketization levels. (3) Fintech affects commercial banks' asset-liability structures through market crowding-out effects and provides technological support for innovation through technological spillover effects, both of which significantly enhance risk-taking. Therefore, this research offers better understanding of the intrinsic relationship between fintech and commercial banks' risk-taking.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Chengyou & Li, Yuxin & Xu, Yun & Sun, Guanglin, 2025. "Research on the impact of financial technology on risk-taking of commercial banks," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:riibaf:v:76:y:2025:i:c:s0275531925000601
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ribaf.2025.102804
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Financial technology; Commercial banks; Risk-taking;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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