Financial Technology and Sustainable Banking: A Systemic Literature Review

Abstract

This study examines the evolving association between financial technology (FinTech) and sustainable banking through a systematic literature review. With the fast growth of digital financial innovations, FinTech has developed as a key driver for promoting sustainability, financial inclusion, and innovation in banking systems. The main objectives of this systematic literature review are identify the general characteristics of studies related to FinTech and sustainable banking, analyze the significance of selected articles, explore major keywords and their interrelationships, and identify dominant research themes. Following PRISMA guidelines, this review systematically reviewed articles indexed in the Scopus database published between 2020 and November 2025. At first, 8,988 articles were identified using a comprehensive keyword search strategy; after title and abstract screening, 80 relevant English-language articles from economics, business, and social science disciplines were selected for analysis. Descriptive, citation, keyword co-occurrence, and thematic analyses were employed to synthesize findings. Results indicate a growing scholarly interest in the FinTech–sustainability nexus, highlighting FinTech’s role in facilitating green finance, improving ESG monitoring, enhancing operational efficiency, and expanding financial access to underserved populations. However, challenges such as cyber security risks, data privacy concerns, energy-intensive technologies, and regulatory gaps persist. The review concludes that FinTech has strong probability to advance sustainable banking, but its benefits depend on supportive regulatory frameworks, digital literacy, and continuous innovation, while future research should emphasize empirical, interdisciplinary, and context-specific approaches.