IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/riibaf/v73y2025ipas0275531924004185.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Small and medium-sized enterprises and sustainable transition: Role of FinTech in a country's banking ecosystem

Author

Listed:
  • Quintiliani, Andrea

Abstract

During the sustainable transition, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) request funding to support environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investments. In particular, these requests clash with information asymmetries typical of the bank–firm relationship, causing SMEs to experience credit crunch phenomena or increased loan costs. This aforementioned phenomenon prompted this study to examine whether FinTech increases banks’ ability to support the development of SMEs aimed at achieving ESG or, better yet, sustainable transition goals. The results suggest that FinTech in a country’s banking ecosystem improves the ESG performance of Italian and British SMEs by addressing adverse selection and moral hazard issues. This study also shows a more pronounced effect in the UK banking ecosystem, which has a higher level of FinTech development and diffusion.

Suggested Citation

  • Quintiliani, Andrea, 2025. "Small and medium-sized enterprises and sustainable transition: Role of FinTech in a country's banking ecosystem," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 73(PA).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:riibaf:v:73:y:2025:i:pa:s0275531924004185
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ribaf.2024.102625
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0275531924004185
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.ribaf.2024.102625?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Seth, Rama & Mahenthiran, Sakthi, 2022. "Impact of dividend payouts and corporate social responsibility on firm value – Evidence from India," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 571-581.
    2. Mashaal A. M. Saif & Nazimah Hussin & Maizaitulaidawati Md Husin & Ayed Alwadain & Ayon Chakraborty, 2022. "Determinants of the Intention to Adopt Digital-Only Banks in Malaysia: The Extension of Environmental Concern," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-32, September.
    3. Mark P. Sharfman & Chitru S. Fernando, 2008. "Environmental risk management and the cost of capital," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(6), pages 569-592, June.
    4. Berger, Allen N & Frame, W Scott & Miller, Nathan H, 2005. "Credit Scoring and the Availability, Price, and Risk of Small Business Credit," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 37(2), pages 191-222, April.
    5. Thakor, Anjan, 2020. "Corrigendum to: Fintech and Banking: What Do We Know?," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 43(C).
    6. Revathi S, 2022. "Role of machine learning in Data Science: A detailed study," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS), vol. 7(7), pages 77-81, July.
    7. Buchak, Greg & Matvos, Gregor & Piskorski, Tomasz & Seru, Amit, 2018. "Fintech, regulatory arbitrage, and the rise of shadow banks," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 130(3), pages 453-483.
    8. Galeone, Graziana & Ranaldo, Simona & Fusco, Antonio, 2024. "ESG and FinTech: Are they connected?," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    9. ., 2022. "Machine beats man - prospects of paid work," Chapters, in: Participation Income, chapter 2, pages 17-26, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    10. Berger, Allen N. & Udell, Gregory F., 2006. "A more complete conceptual framework for SME finance," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 30(11), pages 2945-2966, November.
    11. Gao, Wei & Liu, Zebin, 2023. "Green credit and corporate ESG performance: Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 55(PB).
    12. Ari Hyytinen & Lotta Väänänen, 2006. "Where Do Financial Constraints Originate from? An Empirical Analysis of Adverse Selection and Moral Hazard in Capital Markets," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 27(4), pages 323-348, December.
    13. Hassanniakalager, Arman & Newall, Philip W.S., 2022. "A machine learning perspective on responsible gambling," Behavioural Public Policy, Cambridge University Press, vol. 6(2), pages 237-260, April.
    14. Rajesh Kumar Bhaskaran & Irene Wei Kiong Ting & Sujit K. Sukumaran & Saraswathy Divakaran Sumod, 2020. "Environmental, social and governance initiatives and wealth creation for firms: An empirical examination," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 41(5), pages 710-729, July.
    15. Edward Altman & Gabriele Sabato, 2005. "Effects of the New Basel Capital Accord on Bank Capital Requirements for SMEs," Journal of Financial Services Research, Springer;Western Finance Association, vol. 28(1), pages 15-42, October.
    16. Lihua Zuo & Hongchang Li & Xuanxuan Xia, 2023. "An Empirical Analysis of the Impact of Digital Finance on the Efficiency of Commercial Banks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-25, March.
    17. Hasan, Iftekhar & Hoi, Chun Keung & Wu, Qiang & Zhang, Hao, 2017. "Social Capital and Debt Contracting: Evidence from Bank Loans and Public Bonds," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 52(3), pages 1017-1047, June.
    18. Bouslah, Kais & Kryzanowski, Lawrence & M’Zali, Bouchra, 2013. "The impact of the dimensions of social performance on firm risk," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(4), pages 1258-1273.
    19. Sudheer Chava, 2014. "Environmental Externalities and Cost of Capital," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 60(9), pages 2223-2247, September.
    20. Rui Albuquerque & Yrjo Koskinen & Shuai Yang & Chendi Zhang, 2020. "Resiliency of Environmental and Social Stocks: An Analysis of the Exogenous COVID-19 Market Crash," The Review of Corporate Finance Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 9(3), pages 593-621.
    21. Cornelli, Giulio & Frost, Jon & Gambacorta, Leonardo & Jagtiani, Julapa, 2024. "The impact of fintech lending on credit access for U.S. small businesses," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    22. Yaghoub Abdi & Xiaoni Li & Xavier Càmara-Turull, 2022. "Exploring the impact of sustainability (ESG) disclosure on firm value and financial performance (FP) in airline industry: the moderating role of size and age," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(4), pages 5052-5079, April.
    23. Deli Wang & Ke Peng & Kaiye Tang & Yewei Wu, 2022. "Does Fintech Development Enhance Corporate ESG Performance? Evidence from an Emerging Market," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-21, December.
    24. El Ghoul, Sadok & Guedhami, Omrane & Kwok, Chuck C.Y. & Mishra, Dev R., 2011. "Does corporate social responsibility affect the cost of capital?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 35(9), pages 2388-2406, September.
    25. Xiyang Hu & Yan Huang & Beibei Li & Tian Lu, 2022. "Uncovering the Source of Machine Bias," Papers 2201.03092, arXiv.org.
    26. Allen N. Berger & W. Scott Frame, 2007. "Small Business Credit Scoring and Credit Availability," Journal of Small Business Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(1), pages 5-22, January.
    27. Goss, Allen & Roberts, Gordon S., 2011. "The impact of corporate social responsibility on the cost of bank loans," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 35(7), pages 1794-1810, July.
    28. Wong, Woei Chyuan & Batten, Jonathan A. & Ahmad, Abd Halim & Mohamed-Arshad, Shamsul Bahrain & Nordin, Sabariah & Adzis, Azira Abdul, 2021. "Does ESG certification add firm value?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 39(C).
    29. Najah Attig & Sadok El Ghoul & Omrane Guedhami & Jungwon Suh, 2013. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Credit Ratings," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 117(4), pages 679-694, November.
    30. Caterina De Lucia & Pasquale Pazienza & Mark Bartlett, 2020. "Does Good ESG Lead to Better Financial Performances by Firms? Machine Learning and Logistic Regression Models of Public Enterprises in Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-29, July.
    31. Arifovic, Jasmina & He, Xue-zhong & Wei, Lijian, 2022. "Machine learning and speed in high-frequency trading," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    32. Dicuonzo, Grazia & Palmaccio, Matteo & Shini, Matilda, 2024. "ESG, governance variables and Fintech: An empirical analysis," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    33. Trotta, Annarita & Rania, Francesco & Strano, Eugenia, 2024. "Exploring the linkages between FinTech and ESG: A bibliometric perspective," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    34. Giakoumelou, Anastasia & Salvi, Antonio & Bekiros, Stelios & Onorato, Grazia, 2024. "ESG and FinTech funding in the EU," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    35. Sridevi Ponmalar P & Ayushi Kamboj & Vikram Shete & Harikrishnan R, 2022. "Machine Learning Based Network Traffic Predictive Analysis," Review of Computer Engineering Research, Conscientia Beam, vol. 9(2), pages 96-108.
    36. Timothy C. Y. Chan & Daniel Letourneau & Benjamin G. Potter, 2022. "Sparse flexible design: a machine learning approach," Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal, Springer, vol. 34(4), pages 1066-1116, December.
    37. Eleonora Veglianti & Yaya Li & Elisabetta Magnaghi & Marco de Marco, 2021. "Understanding artificial intelligence: insights on China," Post-Print hal-04522101, HAL.
    38. Kuan-Chieh Chen, 2020. "Implications of Fintech Developments for Traditional Banks," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 10(5), pages 227-235.
    39. Eliwa, Yasser & Aboud, Ahmed & Saleh, Ahmed, 2021. "ESG practices and the cost of debt: Evidence from EU countries," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    40. Lin, Yongjia & Lu, Zhenye & Wang, Yizhi, 2023. "The impact of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices on investment efficiency in China: Does digital transformation matter?," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    41. Benjiang Ma & Zhongmin Zhou & Xiaohong Chen, 2019. "Financing difficulties for SMEs and credit rationing – an expanded model of mortgage loans with asymmetric information," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(48), pages 5243-5257, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Wellalage, Nirosha & Reddy, Krishna & Wallace, Damien, 2023. "Environmental performance and the role of government support: Evidence from the recent COVID-19 pandemic," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 58(PA).
    2. Mohammed Benlemlih, 2017. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Firm Debt Maturity," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 144(3), pages 491-517, September.
    3. Hassan, M. Kabir & Chiaramonte, Laura & Dreassi, Alberto & Paltrinieri, Andrea & Piserà, Stefano, 2023. "Equity costs and risks in emerging markets: Are ESG and Sharia principles complementary?," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    4. Ballester, Laura & González-Urteaga, Ana & Shen, Long, 2024. "Green bond issuance and credit risk: International evidence," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    5. Danilo Drago & Concetta Carnevale, 2020. "Do CSR Ratings Affect Loan Spreads? Evidence from European Syndicated Loan Market," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-30, September.
    6. Boubaker, Sabri & Chebbi, Kaouther & Grira, Jocelyn, 2020. "Top management inside debt and corporate social responsibility? Evidence from the US," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 98-115.
    7. Frank J. Fabozzi & Peck Wah Ng & Diana E. Tunaru, 2021. "The impact of corporate social responsibility on corporate financial performance and credit ratings in Japan," Journal of Asset Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(2), pages 79-95, March.
    8. Boubaker, Sabri & Cellier, Alexis & Manita, Riadh & Saeed, Asif, 2020. "Does corporate social responsibility reduce financial distress risk?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 835-851.
    9. Breuer, Wolfgang & Müller, Torbjörn & Rosenbach, David & Salzmann, Astrid, 2018. "Corporate social responsibility, investor protection, and cost of equity: A cross-country comparison," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 34-55.
    10. Bai, Min & Ho, Ly, 2022. "Corporate social performance and firm debt levels: Impacts of the covid-19 pandemic and institutional environments," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 47(PB).
    11. Yuan, Mingqing, 2024. "Beyond green bonds: Stock market reactions to ESG bond announcements and issuances in Japan," MPRA Paper 120943, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Hans B. Christensen & Luzi Hail & Christian Leuz, 2021. "Mandatory CSR and sustainability reporting: economic analysis and literature review," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 26(3), pages 1176-1248, September.
    13. Khayria Amarna & Raquel Garde Sánchez & Maria Victoria López‐Pérez & Mahmoud Marzouk, 2024. "The effect of environmental, social, and governance disclosure and real earning management on the cost of financing," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(4), pages 3181-3193, July.
    14. Guangming Gong & Si Xu & Xun Gong, 2018. "On the Value of Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure: An Empirical Investigation of Corporate Bond Issues in China," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 150(1), pages 227-258, June.
    15. Federica Ielasi & Paolo Ceccherini & Pietro Zito, 2020. "Integrating ESG Analysis into Smart Beta Strategies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-22, November.
    16. I-Ju Chen & Iftekhar Hasan & Chih-Yung Lin & Tra Ngoc Vy Nguyen, 2021. "Do Banks Value Borrowers' Environmental Record? Evidence from Financial Contracts," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 174(3), pages 687-713, December.
    17. Díaz, Antonio & Escribano, Ana, 2021. "Sustainability premium in energy bonds," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    18. Dunbar, Craig & Li, Zhichuan (Frank) & Shi, Yaqi, 2020. "CEO risk-taking incentives and corporate social responsibility," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    19. Peixin Li & Rongxi Zhou & Yahui Xiong, 2020. "Can ESG Performance Affect Bond Default Rate? Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-12, April.
    20. Yufen Wei & Qigui Liu & Jinbo Luo, 2023. "How does corporate social responsibility have influence on firms' access to trade credit," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(S1), pages 1321-1349, April.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    FinTech; ESG; SME; Bank–firm relationship; Information asymmetry; Country’s banking ecosystem;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G2 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services
    • G3 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:riibaf:v:73:y:2025:i:pa:s0275531924004185. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/ribaf .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.