Research of Accounting and Governance
Vol. 4 No. 2 (2026): JULY 2026

Do Female Directors Enhance ESG Performance? The Moderating Role of FinTech in Indonesian Banking

Meiliana Suparman (Universitas Internasional Batam)
Riska Hariyanti (Universitas Internasional Batam)
Sheila Septiany (Universitas Internasional Batam)



Article Info

Publish Date
09 Jun 2026

Abstract

This study examines the effect of female representation on the board of directors on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance in the banking sector. The rapid growth of financial technology (FinTech) creates a governance phenomenon by potentially reshaping how board diversity influences sustainability outcomes. This study uses panel data from Indonesian listed banks and analyzes 230 firm-year observations from 2019 to 2023. This study applies moderated regression analysis (MRA) to test the proposed relationships. The findings show that female representation on the board of directors improves ESG performance. However, FinTech development weakens the positive effect of female directors on ESG performance, indicating that higher levels of digitalization reduce the effectiveness of board gender diversity in promoting sustainability. This study concludes that digital transformation alters the role of board governance mechanisms in achieving ESG objectives. This study provides managerial and regulatory implications by emphasizing the importance of aligning FinTech strategies with board governance practices to ensure that digitalization supports, rather than undermines, corporate ESG commitments and long-term sustainability.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

rag

Publisher

Subject

Economics, Econometrics & Finance

Description

The Research of Accounting and Governance (RAG) is an open-access journal that applies theory developed from accounting and corporate governance research to actual academic-business conditions. Recognizing the intricate relationships between the many areas of business activity, RAG examines various ...