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Is digital transformation profitable for banks? Evidence from Europe

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  • Citterio, Alberto
  • King, Timothy
  • Locatelli, Rossella

Abstract

Studies on the impact of digital transformation (DT) on bank performance are typically restricted to single countries and present mixed findings. Using data on 279 EU-27 banks from 2017 to 2022 and employing a novel DT index, we demonstrate that DT is associated with higher bank profitability, and that IT and network efficiency are key drivers. Furthermore, Covid-19 and the level of country IT positively moderate this relationship. Interestingly, additional analyses also reveal nonlinear relationships, which suggest that profitability gains from DT investments can take time to materialize and that there are diminishing marginal returns to some DT investments.

Suggested Citation

  • Citterio, Alberto & King, Timothy & Locatelli, Rossella, 2024. "Is digital transformation profitable for banks? Evidence from Europe," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:70:y:2024:i:c:s1544612324012984
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2024.106269
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Digital transformation; IT adoption; Digital channels; Bank performance; Covid-19;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • M15 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - IT Management

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