Volume 21, Issue 3 (9-2026)
J. Mon. Ec. 2026, 21(3): 511-536 |
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sharifi B. "Analyzing the impact of digital transformation and smart banking on financial efficiency and operational risk of banks (Case study: Bank Saman): A combined approach of structural equations and fuzzy multi-criteria decision making". J. Mon. Ec. 2026; 21 (3) : 6
URL: http://jme.mbri.ac.ir/article-1-765-en.html
URL: http://jme.mbri.ac.ir/article-1-765-en.html
M.Sc. in Financial Engineering, University of Iranians, Ph.D. Candidate in Strategic Management, University of Tehran
Abstract: (67341 Views)
Digital transformation and smart banking have emerged as strategic pillars in the modern banking system, significantly influencing financial performance and risk management. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of digital transformation and smart banking on banks’ financial efficiency and operational risk, emphasizing the mediating role of operational risk through a hybrid methodological approach. This applied research adopts a descriptive–analytical design. The statistical population consists of managers and employees of Bank Saman, and data were collected from 220 respondents using a structured questionnaire. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to test the causal relationships and research hypotheses, while Fuzzy TOPSIS was applied to rank the research alternatives and complement the structural model results.
The findings reveal that digital transformation and smart banking have significant positive effects on financial efficiency and significant negative effects on operational risk. Moreover, operational risk plays a significant mediating role in the relationship between both digital transformation and smart banking with financial efficiency. The results of the Fuzzy TOPSIS analysis indicate that smart banking holds a higher priority than digital transformation in achieving an optimal balance between enhancing financial efficiency and reducing operational risk. Overall, the study highlights the importance of moving beyond basic digitalization toward a structured implementation of smart banking supported by effective operational risk management frameworks.
The findings reveal that digital transformation and smart banking have significant positive effects on financial efficiency and significant negative effects on operational risk. Moreover, operational risk plays a significant mediating role in the relationship between both digital transformation and smart banking with financial efficiency. The results of the Fuzzy TOPSIS analysis indicate that smart banking holds a higher priority than digital transformation in achieving an optimal balance between enhancing financial efficiency and reducing operational risk. Overall, the study highlights the importance of moving beyond basic digitalization toward a structured implementation of smart banking supported by effective operational risk management frameworks.
Article number: 6
Keywords: Digital Transformation, Smart Banking, Financial Efficiency, Operational Risk, Structural Equation Modeling, Fuzzy TOPSIS
Type of Study: Original Research - Empirical |
Subject:
Monetary Economics
Received: 10 Feb 2026 | Accepted: 1 Jun 2026 | Published: 8 Aug 2026
Received: 10 Feb 2026 | Accepted: 1 Jun 2026 | Published: 8 Aug 2026
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