How do banks interact with fintech startups?

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Lars Hornuf - , University of Bremen, Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition (Author)
  • Milan F. Klus - , University of Münster (Author)
  • Todor S. Lohwasser - , University of Münster (Author)
  • Armin Schwienbacher - , Université Côte d'Azur (Author)

Abstract

The increasing pervasiveness of technology-driven firms that offer financial services has led to growing pressure on traditional banks to modernize their core business activities and services. Many banks tackle the challenges of digitalization by cooperating with startup firms that offer technology-driven financial services and novel service packages (fintechs). In this article, we examine which banks typically collaborate with fintechs, how intensely they do so, and which form of alliance they prefer. Using hand-collected data covering the largest banks from Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, we provide detailed evidence on the different forms of alliances occurring in practice. We show that banks are significantly more likely to form alliances with fintechs when they pursue a well-defined digital strategy and/or employ a chief digital officer. Moreover, in line with incomplete contract theory, we find that banks more frequently invest in small fintechs but often build product-related collaborations with larger fintechs.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1505-1526
Number of pages22
JournalSmall Business Economics
Volume57
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2021
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

WOS 000532604200001
Scopus 85085013087
ORCID /0000-0002-0576-7759/work/142239288

Keywords

Keywords

  • Banks, Buy, Entrepreneurial finance, Fintech, Make, Strategic alliance

Library keywords