Digitalization of the Banking Sector: New Challenges and Prospects

The presented study examines the digital banking model in the context of globalization.
Aim. The study aims to analyze the nature and current state of digital banking and to determine perspective directions for its development in Azerbaijan.

Tasks. The authors examine the major trends in the development of digital banking, determine its classification relative to the Russian digital banking market, and identify perspective directions for its development in Azerbaijan.

Methods. This study uses general scientific methods of cognition to examine in various aspects the models of development, its trends, characteristic features, and perspective directions in Azerbaijan. 

Results. The progress of both Internet banking and mobile banking is closely associated with e-commerce. Out of 30 banks operating in Azerbaijan, 27 use Internet banking and 25 use mobile banking. At this point, 25% of current account transactions in Azerbaijani banks are conducted via electronic payments. According to the UNCTAD B2C E-commerce Index, Azerbaijan ranks 68th among 144 countries in terms of e-commerce development. Therefore, the most important strategic priorities for the country include improving the variety, quality, and services in the field of digital payments by consolidating the institutional and legal framework of these services, increasing the infrastructure capacity, and facilitating mass use. Expanding the scope of application of digital payments in the context of transparent economic transactions would reduce the costs associated with cash and operating losses of banks and institutions, which would in turn open up new opportunities for modern financial services, thus enhancing economic growth.

Conclusions. Development of digital banking is a path toward economic transparency, shrinking of the underground economy, and an increase in tax revenues, the number of jobs, and GDP. The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) is taking systemic measures aimed at expanding the digital transformation of the banking service and payment system. The implementation and development of innovative banking products should be reflected in the strategy of every bank. Digitalization could become one of the forces driving the development of the baking system and increase the level of trust between depositors and banks, making this sector more transparent. However, there is one major obstacle: a lack of understanding that business should be urgently transformed using digital technology.

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