Finansal teknoloji uygulamalarının bankacılık kredi riskleri üzerindeki etkisi: 2018-2023 dönemi için Irak finansal sektöründen ampirik kanıtlar

This study aims to investigate the influence of financial technology on credit risks in the Iraqi financial sector, as significant improvements have been observed in the Iraqi financial system over the last decade. The onion research model has been used to draft the methodological aspects of this study. Credit risks (the dependent variable) have been measured using Total Cash Credit, Overdraft Accounts, Paid Capital, Late Debit Payments, Loans, and Advances, while financial technology (the independent variable) has been measured using Total Electronic Payments, the Number of NassPay Transactions, NassPay Volume, the Number of Asia Hawala Transactions, Volume of Asia Hawala, the Number of Zain Transactions, and the Volume of Zain Cash Transactions. The data were collected monthly from 2018 to 2023, with all measurements for both variables sourced from the official website of the Iraqi Central Bank. This study reached several conclusions, the most significant being that Iraq's financial system has improved since 2021 due to rising oil production and global oil prices, which have strengthened government spending on public services and infrastructure. In addition to enhancing financial inclusion, efforts to modernize the banking sector, stabilize the currency, and expand digital banking have also attracted international investment. With ongoing reforms and investments in FinTech staff training, the future appears cautiously optimistic. The most important recommendation is that research on the impact of fintech on banking credit risks in Iraq should be conducted after 2023, focusing on micro-level case studies and comparisons with other developed fintech hubs. Future studies should explore blockchain and artificial intelligence applications, assess the effects of regulations, and provide policy recommendations. Moreover, examining financial inclusion, cultural attitudes, user behaviors, and economic conditions will offer a comprehensive risk assessment. To enhance understanding and decision-making, innovative approaches to risk management should be explored, along with fintech-bank collaborations and the development of quantitative models that include stakeholder perspectives.