Digital banking and corporate environmental Governance: Evidence from ISO14001 certification of Chinese corporations

This study utilizes a probit model to empirically investigate the influence of banks' digital transformation on the likelihood of corporations achieving ISO14001 certification, leveraging matched data from bank and corporate loans. The analysis reveals that digital transformation within banks significantly elevates the certification pass rate among corporations. This conclusion remains robust across various robustness and endogeneity tests. The mechanisms driving this effect include enhanced corporate financing availability, improved capabilities for green innovation, and superior quality of environmental information disclosure. Furthermore, the research identifies that the impact is differentiated by the heterogeneity of corporate, bank, and government characteristics, and it contributes positively to economic outcomes by facilitating green technological advancements and increasing corporate value. These findings underscore the critical role of digital transformation in banks in promoting sustainable development and offer valuable insights into the interplay between fintech and economic growth.