Abbreviated key title: J. FinTech Sustain. Finance
ISSN (online):  
Access: Open Access
Periodicity: Continous
Publisher: Zealpress
Contact: info@zealpress.com

Aim and Scope

The Journal of FinTech and Sustainable Finance is a peer-reviewed international journal dedicated to the exploration of innovative financial technologies and the evolving landscape of sustainable finance. The journal serves as a global platform for academics, practitioners, policymakers, and innovators to share cutting-edge research, critical insights, and practical applications at the intersection of digital finance and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) imperatives.

This journal emphasizes how financial technology (FinTech) is transforming the development, delivery, and regulation of sustainable financial services, investment strategies, and risk management. It invites interdisciplinary research that bridges finance, technology, and sustainability to address the challenges and opportunities of a digitized and responsible financial future.

Key Areas of Interest Include (but are not limited to):

• Digital transformation in banking and financial services
• Blockchain and decentralized finance (DeFi) for sustainable investment
• Green bonds, ESG-linked financial instruments, and impact investing
• AI, machine learning, and big data in sustainable finance analytics
• Climate risk assessment and modeling in financial portfolios
• Regulatory technologies (RegTech) supporting ESG compliance
• Sustainable credit scoring, lending platforms, and financial inclusion
• FinTech innovations for carbon trading, climate finance, and social impact
• Ethical implications and governance of FinTech in sustainable finance
• Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and their role in green finance

The journal encourages original research articles, review papers, policy analyses, and case studies that critically engage with both the disruptive potential of FinTech and the urgent demands of global sustainability. It welcomes contributions from diverse fields including finance, economics, information systems, sustainability studies, law, and public policy.

Publication Process:

1) Initial Evaluation

Upon receiving the initial submission in Zeal Press journals, the authors receive an email acknowledging receipt of their article submission. The editorial staff first of all checks that all mandatory requirements, described in Author’s Guidelines, are fulfilled by the authors. After the submission goes through this phase successfully, it is sent to an editorial board member of the relevant journal. The journal editor reviews the article initially to see if it meets the minimum criteria for consideration, scholarliness, and topic suitability. If it does not, article is not approved for peer review and the author is notified by email with a brief explanation why the article cannot be considered for further publication process. If it does meet minimum criteria, the editor approves it for peer reviewing.

2) Peer Review

The handling editor selects at least two specialist reviewers, one of whom may be a member of the editorial board. The reviewers are chosen based on their knowledge in the relevant field and consent is sought first whether they would be interested/able in reviewing the article in a given time frame. Special attention is given to any possible conflict of interest at this stage and reviewers are provided with an opportunity to regret from reviewing an article where they discover any competing interest with the author/content of the article. Editors are supposed to keep them updated about the Editorial policies of the journal and work accordingly.

Reviewers are requested for their written report within the given time frame (generally, one month of receipt of the article). Reviewers are suggested to read guidelines for peer reviewers of the journal and adhere to these. Only the editor/peer review coordinator will ever know who the reviewers are.

3) Editorial Decision

Upon receiving the reports from reviewers, the handling editor or editorial board makes the final decision about acceptance/rejection for publication. If the manuscript needs improvements, these are detailed and the article is sent back to author for revision. This decision is based on the quality of the manuscript, reviewers’ recommendations, and the number of manuscripts already accepted in the journal. The authors are notified about editor’s decision for their manuscript via email.

A deadline for the revision can be suggested by the editor. Once the revised article is submitted, the editor decides whether to approve the article for final publication or to send it to one or both of the original reviewers for their follow-up evaluation and approval. If still more work is required by the reviewers before publication of the article, it is be returned to the author with referees’ comments for improvements and an editor’s letter. Maximally, 3 rounds of review are permissible for any submitted manuscript.

4) Copyediting, Production and Publication

Once an article has been approved for publication, and the author has resubmitted it with all corrections, it goes through a production process. An electronic versions of the typeset, edited version of the article, known as proofs or galleys is sent to the author for final inspection and approval. Authors have one week to review the final proof and may suggest any alterations. Once the article is returned, the managing editorial staff enters all the changes, and it is published online in the current volume of the journal within minimal possible time.

Handling editors/ Editorial Board Members/ EIC, as appropriate, are contacted if any post publication issue arises.