Gender diversity and fintech: an empirical analysis on Italian banks

Financial technology innovation is a key enabling element in reaching a financially inclusive economic development. Moving from the theories on gender diversity, this research examines the impact of financial technology innovation (Fintech) on Italian banks’ performance by explaining the moderating role of gender diversity at different levels of bank governance and management. Using a sample of Italian banks observed during the period 2016-2020 and employing fixed-effects regression models we find that gender diversity in banks improves the propensity towards the in-house provisions of fintech solutions and the collaboration with external fintech firms with positive implications on bank performance. This research provides theoretical contributions and practical implications for investors, government authority and financial supervisors.