Banks and ESG performance
6 Pages Posted: 25 Apr 2023 Last revised: 4 Jun 2023
Date Written: April 19, 2023
Abstract
This paper analyses factors affecting international banks' Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG ) performance from 2008-2018. Using data for all listed banks in the U.S., E.U. and U.K., we show that the characteristics of banks' boards influence their ESG performance. In particular, banks with a higher female presence, a larger board size, high networking and more qualified directors are more likely to show better ESG performance. Furthermore, we find that banks with a propensity to pursue a fintech innovation strategy are more likely to have a better ESG performance, suggesting that fintech innovation also matters for the sustainable development of banks. In line with previous expectations, also banks' financial factors influence their sustainability profile.
Keywords: ESG, FinTech, Board of directors, innovation
JEL Classification: O32, G21, G34
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation