La revolución de la banca : cómo las innovaciones de fintech están transformando las funciones centrales y el futuro panorama de los servicios financieros

Abstract

This thesis investigates the impact of financial technology (Fintech) adoption affects efficiency of traditional European banks. With an emphasis on whether Fintech complements or disrupts the banking sector. The analysis uses panel data from 25 leading European banks during 2015–2024, drawing from trusted financial databases including Refinitiv Eikon, Bloomberg, and publicly available bank reports. The study applies a fixed-effects panel regression model to assess how key FinTech variables, such as mobile app usage, chatbot adoption, and blockchain implementation, affect the banks’ cost-to-income ratio, a widely accepted proxy for operational efficiency. Additional bank-level control variables are incorporated, including size, number of branches, and employee headcount. The regression results indicate that mobile app usage and chatbot integration are significantly associated with improvements in cost efficiency, supporting the argument that digital innovation enhances traditional banking performance. While blockchain adoption shows a more limited effect, its role appears to be emerging. Notably, variables such as bank size and branch network show varying levels of impact, highlighting differences in adaptability across institutions. The findings support the application of Disruptive Innovation Theory, Transaction Cost Economics, and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), ultimately suggesting that FinTech should be viewed not as a threat, but as a complementary force capable of improving traditional bank performance. This thesis contributes to the academic and practical understanding of how FinTech can be leveraged to modernize core banking functions and offers strategic implications for financial institutions navigating digital transformation.