Fintech innovation among retail banking industry companies has dropped off in the last three months

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Research and innovation in fintech in the major banks, central banks, and non-bank competitors sector has declined in the last year.

The most recent figures show that the number of fintech related patent applications in the industry stood at 675 in the three months ending July – down from 1360 over the same period in 2021.

Figures for patent grants related to fintech followed a similar pattern to filings – shrinking from 616 in the three months ending July 2021 to 518 in the same period in 2022.

The figures are compiled by GlobalData, who track patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Using textual analysis, as well as official patent classifications, these patents are grouped into key thematic areas, and linked to key companies across various industries.

Fintech is one of the key areas tracked by GlobalData. It has been identified as being a key disruptive force facing companies in the coming years, and is one of the areas that companies investing resources in now are expected to reap rewards from.

The figures also provide an insight into the largest innovators in the sector.

Capital One Financial Corp was the top fintech innovator in the major banks, central banks, and non-bank competitors sector in the latest quarter. The company, which has its headquarters in the United States, filed 144 fintech related patents in the three months ending July. That was down from 256 over the same period in 2021.

It was followed by the United States based Visa Inc with 108 fintech patent applications, the United States based Mastercard Inc (78 applications), and China based Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China Ltd (58 applications).