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  Cluster 7: Finance, Accounting & Economics

Best Banking and Finance Journals for Researchers (2026)

Banking and finance research examines the institutions, markets, and regulatory frameworks at the core of modern economies. From commercial banking and central banking to fintech disruption and financial inclusion, this field informs regulatory reform, financial stability policy, and the evolution of financial systems globally. Keith Publications provides the open access, fast publication platform this critical research needs.

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What to Look for When Choosing a Journal

Before submitting your research, evaluate journals on these key criteria:

  • Banking and financial services scope — commercial, central, investment, and development banking
  • Fintech and digital finance coverage — open banking, blockchain, and payment systems
  • Regulatory relevance — research informing Basel III/IV, Dodd-Frank, and Solvency II
  • Open access for reach to bank regulators, central bankers, and financial inclusion researchers
  • Fast review for time-sensitive banking regulation and fintech research
  • International scope — banking research from diverse jurisdictions and development contexts

Recommended Journals — Cluster 7: Finance, Accounting & Economics

All journals below are published by Keith Publications — open access, peer-reviewed, and indexed for global discoverability.

  • Journal of Financial Economics and Management (JFEM)

    Financial economics, corporate finance, investment management, financial markets, monetary policy, and the economics of financial systems and institutions.

    Review: 2–3 weeks Open Access DOI (CrossRef) Google Scholar
    Financial Economics Corporate Finance Investment Management Financial Markets
  • Journal of Accounting and Financial Reporting (JAFR)

    Financial accounting, management accounting, auditing, corporate governance, financial reporting standards, and the intersection of accounting with regulation and public policy.

    Review: 2–4 weeks Open Access DOI (CrossRef) Google Scholar
    Financial Accounting Auditing Corporate Governance Financial Reporting
  • International Journal of Banking and Financial Services (IJBFS)

    Banking systems, financial services regulation, fintech, digital banking, risk management, financial inclusion, and the stability of global financial institutions.

    Review: 2–4 weeks Open Access DOI (CrossRef) Google Scholar
    Banking Systems Financial Services Fintech Risk Management
  • Economics and Social Policy Research Journal (ESPRJ)

    Applied economics, development economics, fiscal and monetary policy, social policy evaluation, labour economics, and the economics of welfare, health, and education.

    Review: 2–4 weeks Open Access DOI (CrossRef) Google Scholar
    Applied Economics Development Economics Fiscal Policy Social Policy

Fast Publication: All Keith Publications journals complete initial review within 2–5 business days and full peer review within 2–4 weeks. Articles are published online within 5–10 days of acceptance — making us one of the fastest open access publishers in finance, accounting, and economics.

Core Research Areas in Banking and Finance Journals

Keith Publications banking and finance journals accept research on: commercial bank performance — profitability, efficiency, and asset quality; bank risk-taking — moral hazard, too-big-to-fail, and capital regulation; central banking — monetary policy transmission, lender of last resort, and payment systems; investment banking — IPOs, underwriting, mergers and acquisitions advisory, and securities markets; fintech and digital banking — mobile banking, open banking (PSD2), robo-advisors, and peer-to-peer lending; financial inclusion — access to banking, microfinance, and the unbanked population; shadow banking and non-bank financial intermediation; Islamic banking and finance; and banking system stability and financial crises.

Fintech Research: The Transformation of Banking

Fintech is transforming every aspect of banking and financial services — from payments and lending to wealth management and insurance. Research on fintech disruption, regulatory responses (regulatory sandboxes, open banking mandates), fintech and financial inclusion, cryptocurrency banking, and the competitive dynamics between traditional banks and fintech platforms is among the most rapidly growing areas of finance research. Keith Publications banking journals provide an open access platform for this urgent fintech research, connecting academic findings with regulators, bank executives, and policymakers navigating the fintech revolution.

Tips to Maximise Your Acceptance Chances

  1. Align your topic with the journal's scope — confirm your research fits the journal's finance, accounting, or economics focus area.
  2. Establish clear research questions — finance and economics editors expect precise, testable hypotheses or well-defined research questions.
  3. Address endogeneity and identification — be explicit about your causal identification strategy and its limitations.
  4. Use appropriate data and methodology — match your econometric or quantitative methods to your research question and data structure.
  5. Follow formatting guidelines exactly — non-compliant manuscripts are often desk-rejected without review.
  6. State practical and policy implications — explain how your findings inform investors, regulators, policymakers, or practitioners.
  7. Ensure robust robustness checks — include alternative specifications, subsample analyses, and placebo tests to strengthen your empirical claims.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which journals are best for banking and finance research?
The International Journal of Banking and Financial Services (IJBFS) and Journal of Financial Economics and Management (JFEM) from Keith Publications are among the best banking and finance journals, covering commercial banking, central banking, financial regulation, fintech, and financial inclusion.
Can I publish research on Islamic banking and finance?
Yes. Research on Islamic banking principles (profit-sharing, prohibition of riba), sukuk markets, Islamic financial institutions, takaful (Islamic insurance), and the regulatory frameworks for Islamic finance is within scope for Keith Publications banking journals.
Is research on financial inclusion and microfinance accepted?
Yes. Research on financial inclusion measurement, mobile money platforms, microfinance institution performance, the impact of credit access on household welfare, and barriers to financial services access in developing countries is within scope for IJBFS and ESPRJ.
How quickly can banking research be published at Keith Publications?
Keith Publications journals complete initial screening within 2–5 business days and full peer review within 2–4 weeks — fast enough for banking researchers responding to regulatory developments and market events.

Ready to Publish Your Research?

Submit your finance, accounting, or economics manuscript to Keith Publications today. Fast peer review, open access, and global indexing — get your work published within weeks.

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