Synergy between green finance and digitisation: towards a reduction in banking risks

Purpose This paper aims to investigate how green finance and digital transformation jointly impact banking risk, with a focus on banks’ risk-bearing capacity and observable risk-taking behaviors. Design/methodology/approach The author use a panel data set of 40 Chinese commercial banks covering 2008–2022. The author empirically distinguish banks’ risk-bearing capacity (measured by RWA) from risk-taking behaviors (NPL, Z-score), and analyse interaction effects between green finance and digital transformation, using state-of-the-art robustness checks and quantile regression. Findings The analysis reveals three major contributions: (1) Green finance activities generally improve banks’ risk-bearing capacity, as reflected by reductions in risk-weighted assets, although the extent of this effect varies across institutions. (2) Digital transformation amplifies the effect of green finance, with risk-reduction benefits especially pronounced in urban and rural banks compared to large national banks. (3) The study recommends creating centralised and standardised data platforms to strengthen the effectiveness of green finance policies. Originality/value The study’s originality lies in distinguishing – both conceptually and empirically – between risk-bearing capacity and risk-taking, and in demonstrating the heterogeneous and synergistic effects of digital transformation across different types of Chinese banks. The findings provide actionable recommendations for both banks and policymakers seeking to enhance climate risk management.