In the past decade, developments in information and communication technology have led to the emergence of new business models in the banking industry. Open banking, as one of the most important financial innovations, enables the sharing of banking data through Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), thereby facilitating the development of innovative financial services, enhancing bank competitiveness, and improving operational efficiency.
The present study aims to investigate the impact of open banking on the financial efficiency of commercial banks in Iran. This research is applied in terms of its objective and descriptive-analytical in terms of methodology. The statistical population includes commercial banks operating in Iran. Financial efficiency is measured using indicators such as return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE), and net interest margin (NIM). In addition, the level of open banking development is measured through a composite index based on the degree of digitalization of services, the number of APIs provided, and the extent of cooperation with fintech companies.
Theoretical and empirical findings indicate that the development of open banking has a positive and significant effect on bank financial efficiency through mechanisms such as reducing operational costs, improving service quality, increasing customer satisfaction, and generating new revenue streams. The results further show that banks with a higher level of open banking implementation exhibit better financial performance compared to other banks.
Accordingly, the development of open banking infrastructure can be considered a key strategy for improving productivity and enhancing the competitiveness of the Iranian banking system, and should be given serious attention by policymakers and bank managers.