Financial inclusion is an important enabler of economic development and aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In most sub-Saharan African countries, financial inclusion efforts take place in the presence of concentrated and bank-dominated systems. This study...

In the digital age, banks must urgently transform their traditional lending processes. This necessity is intensified by the growing competition from digital providers and customers' increasing expectations for efficiency and speed in financial services. Particularly in the business banking...

We analyze the impact of negative reference rates on the interest behavior of more than 500 Austrian banks from 2009Q1 to 2021Q4. Using panel vector error correction analysis with the Engle-Granger procedure in two steps, we establish a cointegration vector that links bank-specific lending...

Most countries in Latin America and the Caribbean are implementing fast payment systems (FPS), often with the goal of enhancing access to and use of affordable financial services. FPS offer immediate transfer of funds on a 24x7 basis between end users. This paper assesses how FPS can promote...

The urgent need to address climate change has placed environmental degradation and sustainable development at the centre of policy discussions. This highlights the importance of examining how the financial system directs funds toward green investments or emission-intensive industries. Expanding...

The objective of this article is to present the results of an analysis of how the form of activities of EU banking groups affected their decisions to purchase non-euro area EU government bonds during the COVID-19 pandemic. The dataset consists of the portfolios of government bonds (including...

We analyze the impact of negative reference rates on the interest rate behavior of more than 500 Austrian banks from 2009Q1 to 2021Q4. Using panel vector error correction analysis with the Engle-Granger procedure in two steps, we establish a cointegration vector that links bank-specific lending...

This paper investigates the effect of digital financial inclusion, creative innovations, and green finance on the stability of the national banking system in twenty-nine low-financially developed economies spanning the period 2011-2021. We demonstrate that digital financial inclusion promotion...

Advancements in technology and emerging digital trends are driving the expectations of bank clients. With the development of new, innovative technologies, the banking sector has started creating new products and services and looking for new channels through which to offer those services in a way...

Purpose - Environmental threats are becoming severe in developing and undeveloped countries. It urges to know how green banking operations can foster sustainable development in these regions. This study aims to provide empirical evidence of the determinants of green banking operations in...

The banking sector must confront challenges arising from globalization, the demand for new business models (BMs), increasing regulation, and ever-advancing digitalization. In this context, innovative competitors, namely FinTechs, are challenging banks and forcing them to rethink existing...

Purpose - Financial inclusion is a prerequisite for inclusive development. In 2014, the Indian Government introduced the Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) with a similar objective. The study aims to analyse the effectiveness of banks in the implementation of financial inclusion policy, i.e....

Purpose - The literature review stated that financial inclusion (FI) influences economic growth through different channels. Hence, this paper aims to investigate the underlying process of FI in Egypt theoretically, and to derive some policy implications for promoting the process and achieving...

The 22nd post-programme surveillance mission to Spain took place, in virtual format, on 2 and 4 October 2024. The meetings involved staff from the European Commission, in liaison with European Central Bank staff. European Stability Mechanism staff participated on aspects related to its Early...

The 21st post-programme surveillance mission to Ireland took place from 18 to 20 September 2024. This mission involved European Commission staff in liaison with European Central Bank staff. European Stability Mechanism (ESM) staff participated on aspects relating to its Early Warning System.

The 20th post-programme surveillance mission to Portugal took place from 30 September to 1 October 2024. This mission involved European Commission staff in liaison with European Central Bank staff. European Stability Mechanism (ESM) staff participated on aspects relating to its Early Warning System.

The fifth post-programme surveillance mission to Greece took place from 8 to 11 October 2024. It involved European Commission staff in liaison with European Central Bank staff. European Stability Mechanism staff participated on aspects relating to its Early Warning System. Staff from the...

The 17th post-programme surveillance mission to Cyprus took place from 30 September to 7 October 2024. This mission involved European Commission staff in liaison with European Central Bank (ECB) staff. European Stability Mechanism (ESM) staff participated on aspects relating to the ESM's Early...

We assess the feasibility, optimality, and policy implications of Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG)-linked or “green” lending in a credit market where banks incorporate such non-financial data in credit allocation decisions. We identify an asymmetric information problem:...

We study the importance of information technology (IT) in banking for entrepreneurship. Guided by a parsimonious model, we establish that job creation by young firms is stronger in US counties more exposed to banks with greater IT adoption. We present evidence consistent with banks' IT adoption...

This study investigates the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) on bank stability in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, differentiating between Islamic and conventional banks. The results reveal a negative relationship between FDI and bank stability, and Islamic banks can mitigate...

This study analyzes the effects of diversity, inclusion, and people development (DIP) on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance in Islamic and conventional banks from 2015 to 2022. Using data from Refinitiv database, it reveals that a more diverse and inclusive workplace is...