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Fintech in the time of COVID−19: Technological adoption during crises

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  • Fu, Jonathan
  • Mishra, Mrinal

Abstract

We document the effects of the COVID−19 pandemic on digital finance and fintech adoption. Drawing on mobile application data from a globally representative sample, we find that the spread of COVID− 19 and related government lockdowns led to a sizeable increase in the rate of finance app downloads. We then analyze factors that may have driven this effect on the demand−side and better understand the “winners” from this digital acceleration on the supply−side. Our overall results suggest that traditional incumbents saw the largest growth in their digital offerings during the initial period, but that “BigTech” companies and newer fintech providers ultimately outperformed them over time. Finally, we drill−down further on the adoption of fintech apps pertaining to both the asset and liability side of the traditional bank balance sheet, to explore the implications that the accelerated trends in digitization may have for the future landscape of financial intermediation.

Suggested Citation

  • Fu, Jonathan & Mishra, Mrinal, 2022. "Fintech in the time of COVID−19: Technological adoption during crises," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfinin:v:50:y:2022:i:c:s1042957321000462
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jfi.2021.100945
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Justus Meyer & Federica Teppa, 2023. "Euro area consumers' payment behaviour and banking digitalisation," Working Papers 772, DNB.
    3. Hasan, Iftekhar & Li, Xiang & Takalo, Tuomas, 2023. "Technological innovation and the bank lending channel of monetary policy transmission," BOFIT Discussion Papers 9/2023, Bank of Finland Institute for Emerging Economies (BOFIT).
    4. Haruthai Kasemharuethaisuk & Taweesak Samanchuen, 2023. "Factors Influencing Behavior Intention in Digital Investment Services of Mutual Fund Distributors Adoption in Thailand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-21, January.
    5. Orkun Saka & Barry Eichengreen & Cevat Giray Aksoy, 2022. "Epidemic Exposure, Financial Technology, and the Digital Divide," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 54(7), pages 1913-1940, October.
    6. Adriana Grigorescu & Oana Oprisan & Cristina Lincaru & Camelia Speranta Pirciog, 2023. "E-Banking Convergence and the Adopter’s Behavior Changing Across EU Countries," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, December.
    7. Chunling Li & Nosherwan Khaliq & Leslie Chinove & Usama Khaliq & Judit Oláh, 2023. "Consumers’ Perception of Risk Facets Associated With Fintech Use: Evidence From Pakistan," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, October.
    8. Sun, Yang & Tang, Xinwei, 2022. "The impact of digital inclusive finance on sustainable economic growth in China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    9. Nejla Ould Daoud Ellili, 2023. "Is there any association between FinTech and sustainability? Evidence from bibliometric review and content analysis," Journal of Financial Services Marketing, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 28(4), pages 748-762, December.
    10. Pacelli, Vincenzo & Miglietta, Federica & Foglia, Matteo, 2022. "The extreme risk connectedness of the new financial system: European evidence," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Digital finance; Fintech; Financial inclusion; Technological adoption; Market structure; COVID−19;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G2 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services
    • G5 - Financial Economics - - Household Finance
    • L1 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance

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