FinTech Lending and Cashless Payments
Published online on March 30, 2026
Abstract
["The Journal of Finance, Volume 81, Issue 2, Page 1053-1101, April 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\nBorrowers' use of cashless payments improves their access to capital from FinTech lenders and predicts a lower probability of default. These relationships are stronger for cashless technologies providing more precise information, and for outflows. Cashless payment usage complements other signals of borrower quality. We rationalize these empirical findings using a framework in which borrowers signal their lower likelihood of diverting cash flows through payment technology choice, and screening accuracy is further strengthened by informational complementarities. The informational synergy we uncover provides a rationale for the joint rise of cashless payments and FinTech lending, as well as for open banking."]