Institutionelle Transformation im Bankensektor: Multidimensionale Analyse der Auswirkungen von Digitalisierung, ESG, Demografie und Regulierung auf deutsche und europäische Kreditinstitute[Institutional Transformation in the Banking Sector: Multidimensional Analysis of the Impact of Digitalization, ESG, Demographics and Banking Regulation on German and European Credit Institutions]

The European, and in particular the German, banking sector is in a phase of profound structural transformation that is characterised by the simultaneous impact and interaction of several macro-structural drivers. Advancing digitalisation - particularly through artificial intelligence (AI) and distributed ledger technology (DLT) - ESG integration as a strategic and regulatory imperative, a tightening regulatory framework (including Basel IV, DORA, EU AI Act, MiCA), demographic changes and intensified competition from digital players and changing customer behaviour are presenting banks with profound challenges. This discussion paper explains the impact of these drivers on business models, risk management, operational resilience, regulatory adjustment requirements and the strategic positioning of banks in the German and European context. It shows that the simultaneous management of these transformations - under conditions of increased complexity and rising demands on capital, technology and personnel - requires integrated management approaches and far-reaching organisational adjustments.In particular, the focus is on: the strategic use of AI, taking into account ethical and regulatory limits, the anchoring of ESG in risk management and product strategy, the impact of Basel IV regulations on the capital structure, and the relevance of demographic shifts for customer interfaces, HR strategies and sales models. The work concludes with the formulation of strategic imperatives for banks as an approach to a future-oriented, resilient and competitive realignment.