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Accountant working on some finance sheets

Institute of European Finance

Bangor University is home to the Institute of European Finance research centre.

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Accounting sheets

OUR RESEARCH PLANNING GROUPS Accounting and Governance

Members of the Accounting & Governance research planning group explore the different means and aspects of accounting (including corporate communication) and governance, in relation to a broad range of organisations and stakeholders, and using a wide range of theoretical frameworks and methodologies. The aim is to explore how organisations interact with interested audiences, via text (e.g. annual report documents, CSR report, press releases, proxy statements), financial statements, and engagement (e.g., proxy voting), and how communications, governance mechanisms, and institutions influence internal and external audiences’ perceptions and decisions, and organisational outcomes.

Emeritus staff

  • Professor Doris Merkl-Davies

PhD students:

Reviewing stocks on the stock market

OUR RESEARCH PLANNING GROUPS Credit Risk

This research planning group focuses on empirical research on credit risk. This group incorporates staff across the accounting, banking, economics and finance specialisms. The group intends to build on existing research in the School and to encourage new synergies and interdisciplinary research. Three members of the group have an established reputation in credit ratings research at Bangor over a period of more than ten years, along with an established and active PhD group. Our group members include:

External members:

  • Dr Noemi Mantovan - Liverpool University, UK
  • Dr Huong Vu - University of Aberdeen, UK
  • Dr Vu Tran – University of Reading, UK
  • Dr Thy Nguyen - University of Management and Technology Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

PhD Students:

To view a list of PhD projects we have an interest in supervising please visit our PhD course page.

App showing data on a screen

OUR RESEARCH PLANNING GROUPS Data Analytics and Financial Innovation

The Financial Innovation & Data Analytics research group we seek to harness the power of data analytics to uncover novel insights that enhance business practices and financial markets. Our research aims to enhance decision making in business and public sector through data-driven findings. Specific key areas of focus include understanding investor trading behaviour and enhancing the detection and prevention of fraud and related misconduct particularly when related to innovations in finance.

Our group members include:

External Members:

  • Kota Kobayashi
  • ‪Nikki Cornwell‬
  • Yun Lu
  • Prof Oualid Jouini (CentraleSupelec – Universite Paris-Saclay)
  • Prof Zied Jemai (CentraleSupelec – Universite Paris-Saclay)
  • Dr Mohammad Hichame Benbitour (Ecole de Management Normandie)

PhD Students:

  • Jiaxin Li
Business team working through some analytics

OUR RESEARCH PLANNING GROUPS Responsible Banking

The Responsible Banking research group brings together academics to collaborate on topical and high calibre academic research in sustainable banking, industrial structures, and regulation.  Through members extensive links with multilateral organisations, regulators, and industry, the research group connects academic researchers with practitioners and policymakers to address some of the biggest questions facing the banking sector.

Our group members include:

Emeritus Staff:

External Members

PhD students:

Our Management Board

Meet the staff members that make up the The Institute of European Finance Management Board. 

Postgraduate Research

Find out about the research opportunities we have on offer for postgraduate students in our subject areas.

Accounting, Banking and Finance

Highlights

Due to their expertise and global reputation, members of the Institute of European Finance feature frequently in the national and international media. In addition, members often write short blogs in response to current events, disseminate research findings, and inform a wide array of stakeholders. Details of media coverage and appearances, and blogs, can be found below.

  • Two of Yener’s working papers have been presented by his co-authors at the CGRM 2025 conference in Roma:
    - Freilli, G., Palmieri, E. and Altunbas, Y. “Financial Innovation or Sustainability? How Fintech M&As and ESG Strategies affect Bank Performance Across Business Models”, CGRM 2025 Conference, Roma, October 2, 2025
    - Altunbas, Y., Di Martino, G., Mazzuca M. and Miglietta, F., “Stranded assets and climate-related risks: The case of real estate and the credit market in Italy”, CGRM 2025 Conference, Roma, October 3, 2025.
  • Nation.Cymru published an article by Ed in which he considers non-technology ideas from Silicon Valley (the Dark Enlightenment in particular) and the possible impact on democracy. The article argues that there are many lessons from a start-up mentality but countries aren’t businesses. https://nation.cymru/opinion/when-startup-thinking-threatens-democracy/.
  • Congratulations to Binru, whose paper entitled “Can machines learn Chinese mutual funds?” has been accepted for publication in the Pacific-Basin Finance Journal.
  • Congratulations to Hanxiong, whose paper entitled “CEO social class origins and risk taking” has been accepted for publication in European Financial Management.
  • Congratulations to Heather, who has been invited to serve on the Programme Committee for the 6th ACM International Conference on AI in Finance for the second year in a row.
  • Congratulations to Binru, who has received the Outstanding Paper Award at the 2025 International Academic Conference on Digital Finance in China for his paper entitled “Kindred Spirits: Bank ESG Reputation Risk, Loan Syndication Structure, and Renegotiation”.
  • Congratulations to Khaled, who has had two papers accepted for publication this week:
  • Congratulations to Valantis, whose paper entitled “The demographic transition and stagnation in countries vulnerable to climate change” has been accepted for publication by the Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control.
  • Congratulations to Duc, who’s bid for £1,510 to the Taith mobility fund has been successful. Duc will visit the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen in the autumn. His objective is to initiate a new collaborative project on Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption and AI washing, and to finalise an ongoing study on mandatory ESG disclosure regulations
  • Congratulations to Cem Soner (PhD student), who has been awarded a Taith mobility funding worth £2080 (Plus visa costs) for a one-month research visit to the University of Valencia (hosted by Professor Santiago Carbó Valverde) sometime in 2025/26.
  • Congratulations to Khaled, whose paper entitled “An Empirical Analysis of Waste Management Practices in French Family Firms” has been accepted for publication in Journal of Accounting Literature.
  • Congratulations to Heather, whose paper entitled “Spatial-Temporal Stock Movement Prediction and Portfolio Selection Based on the Semantic Company Relationship Graph” has been accepted for publication in Quantitative Finance.
  • Congratulations to Heather, who has been awarded £700 in seed funding to support her role as an event organiser in the ESRC Festival of Social Science. The event, titled “The Hidden Cost of Returns: What Happens After You Click ‘Buy’?”, will be held in late October this year in collaboration with a colleague in Cardiff.

Working Papers and Publications

The Institute of European Finance is a name synonymous with research excellence.  Members conduct rigorous academic analysis and combine knowledge and tools from different disciplines to meet current and future challenges.  Details of members’ publications can be found below.

 

Institute of European Finance, The Albert Gubay Business School, Hen Goleg, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2DG

Contact Us

Institute of European Finance, The Albert Gubay Business School, Hen Goleg, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2DG
Archive

Check here for our past projects:

Archive

Check here for our past projects: