Cooperation and competition between major Swedish banks and FinTech companies

The major Swedish banks have been affected by digitalization in the financial sector, where FinTech has contributed with new technological opportunities. The banks that partner with FinTech companies can develop effective and innovative solutions for both companies and individuals. However, the banks' cooperation with FinTech companies has resulted in various risks, mainly cyber and operational risks. The actors investigated were Handelsbanken, SEB and Swedbank. The purpose of the study is to analyze and investigate the relationship between banks and FinTech companies. With a focus on cooperation and competition as well as whether there are any potential risks that may arise in the relationships. In order to answer the purpose, semi-structured interviews have been conducted with representatives from the banks as primary data collection. Secondary data have also been used, such as banks' annual reports and scientific articles. The theoretical frame of reference is important in relation to the research questions and the chosen theory of cooperation and competition is crucial for the purpose of the study. The results showed that all banks saw collaborations with Fintech companies as an opportunity to streamline their systems and develop services beyond their own capacity. However, these collaborations were different, where Handelsbanken avoided external collaborations unlike SEB and Swedbank. Finally, the study concluded that all banks experienced increased exposure to risks because of the emergence of FinTech.