Rami ALRTAIMAT¹

¹ Doctoral School of Economic Sciences, University of Oradea, Oradea, Romania

alrtaimat.ramisaleharaiwa@student.uoradea.ro.

 Abstract: This article presents a comprehensive analysis of the evolution and impact of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles on banking performance over a twelve-year period, from 2012 -2024. Through a detailed bibliometric and big data analytics examination of the ESG Bank Performance (EBP) corpus within SCOPUS, we uncover the thematic and geographical distribution of research contributions that underline the sector’s dynamic journey towards sustainability. Our findings illustrate a significant shift in the academic focus, from foundational explorations of ESG integration strategies and risk management to addressing the broader complexities of global sustainability challenges, technological advancements, and regulatory changes. The period has seen a maturation of ESG from a niche interest to a strategic imperative within the banking sector, underscored by increasing scholarly output and citation engagement globally, particularly from countries like Italy, the Russian Federation, China, and India. Keyword co-occurrence analysis reveals a rich thematic landscape, emphasizing the integration of ESG into operational and financial strategies, the role of digital innovation, and the banking sector’s response to climate finance and social governance issues. Our review provides insights into the evolving discourse on ESG impact, offering forward-looking recommendations for research and practice. We argue that ESG considerations have become integral to the banking industry’s evolution, necessitating innovative, interdisciplinary approaches to further our understanding of sustainable banking practices. This study contributes to the advancement of sustainable banking by highlighting the significance of ESG considerations in shaping future financial and operational strategies that align with global sustainability objectives, fostering a more sustainable and resilient banking sector for the future.

 Keywords: ESG integration; Environmental Social Governance; Banking performance.

 JEL Classification: G21; Q56; M14

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