Finance Research Seminar – Shuai Ren

Title: Open Banking: A Synergy Model Approach

Date: 21 October 2026

Time: 14:00 to 15:00

Venue: TBC

If you would like to attend, please register using the following link

ESG Metrics in Executive Compensation: A Multitasking Approach

Speaker: Shuai Ren, Newcastle University

Abstract:

This study proposes a synergy model to investigate how traditional banks and FinTech platforms collaborate under the Open Banking regime to meet the needs of heterogeneous borrowers. Drawing on Corning’s synergy hypothesis and the Synergy Model developed by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), the research repositions borrower heterogeneity as the core mechanism driving institutional cooperation. The model integrates a random search matching structure with a two-stage game framework, capturing how borrower preferences, data-sharing permissions, and institutional capabilities jointly influence credit allocation. Synergistic effects are formally defined and evaluated through a multidimensional utility function, encompassing both

positive outcomes—such as improved credit accessibility and cost efficiency—and potential negative interactions, including coordination costs and mismatches. Empirical validation is supported by bank- and FinTech-specific variables, combined with country-level indicators reflecting different Open

Banking maturity levels. An agent-based simulation approach is employed to assess market segmentation and welfare outcomes under varying regulatory regimes. By advancing a demand-led perspective on synergy and aligning theoretical modelling with empirical evidence, this research offers a novel lens through which to understand inter-organisational collaboration in digital finance, and provides valuable insights for the construction of inclusive and stable Open Banking.