EVOLUTION AND CURRENT TRENDS IN BANKING SYSTEMS INTEGRATION: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS

The integration of banking systems has become a defining feature of modern financial markets, driven by globalization, regulatory harmonization, and rapid technological innovation. While banking integration has been widely associated with efficiency gains, enhanced competition, and improved capital allocation, it has also intensified concerns regarding systemic risk, financial contagion, and regulatory coordination. In recent years, the academic literature on banking integration has expanded significantly, resulting in a fragmented research landscape that spans multiple disciplines and methodological approaches. Against this background, this paper aims to provide a comprehensive and systematic overview of recent scholarly developments through a bibliometric analysis of the banking integration literature. The study is based on a dataset of 2,629 peer-reviewed articles and review papers indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection over the period 2021–2026. Using bibliometric performance indicators and science mapping techniques, the analysis examines publication trends, influential journals and countries, citation structures, and the conceptual and thematic evolution of the field. The results reveal a rapidly growing and highly internationalized body of research, characterized by strong collaborative patterns and increasing interdisciplinary engagement. Core research themes remain focused on integration, performance, and growth, while emerging topics related to digital transformation, artificial intelligence, governance, and financial stability have gained prominence in recent years. Overall, the findings demonstrate a clear shift from traditional efficiency-oriented analyses toward a more holistic research agenda that integrates technological, institutional, and systemic perspectives. By mapping the intellectual structure and recent evolution of banking integration research, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the field and provides a foundation for future empirical and policy-oriented investigations.