Does the growth of Fintech Start-ups influence the Bank’s Financial Performance in ASEAN-5 countries?

Abstract

The ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations), established in 1967, comprises ten member countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand (ASEAN-5), which represent 66% of the region's population. The banking sector, a crucial element in economic growth, has been significantly influenced by the rise of Fintech start-ups, which offer new technologies and business models such as digital payments and peer-to-peer lending. This study examines the impact of Fintech on the financial performance of banks in the ASEAN-5 countries from 2019 to 2022, considering factors such as government regulations, technological advancements, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The research explores how Fintech growth has affected key financial performance indicators, including Return on Assets (ROA), Return on Equity (ROE), and Net Interest Margin (NIM). It highlights the fluctuations in ROE across ASEAN-5 countries and discusses the mixed impacts of Fintech on bank performance, with some studies indicating negative effects due to disruptive innovation and others showing positive impacts through financial inclusion and automation. The study also investigates internal factors like company size and capital ratio, which influence bank performance. Company size, measured by total assets, and the capital ratio, reflecting equity to assets, are analyzed to understand their effects on financial performance. Additionally, external factors such as GDP and inflation are considered as control variables to isolate their impact on bank performance. By evaluating these variables, the research aims to provide insights into how banks in ASEAN-5 can adapt to the evolving financial landscape shaped by Fintech innovations and external economic conditions.