## 4 Results  
The trends observed across EU countries from 2017 to 2022 according to the Eurostat Database [107] reveal significant disparities in banking performance, digitalization, and technological adoption, reflecting the broader economic and financial dynamics within the region. Return on equity (ROE) [106], a key measure of banking performance, displays divergent trends across member states. While countries such as Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Romania exhibit consistently high ROE values, indicative of strong profitability in their banking sectors, others, including Germany, France, and Denmark, maintain lower but more stable figures, suggesting a preference for risk-averse banking strategies. Notably, economies like Greece and Cyprus experienced periods of negative ROE, highlighting structural vulnerabilities and financial sector challenges. The penetration of internet banking has followed an upward trajectory across all EU nations [107], albeit at different speeds. In Northern and Western European economies, such as Finland, the Netherlands, and Denmark, the proportion of individuals using internet banking was already high in 2017 and has since reached near saturation. Conversely, in Southern and Eastern European countries, including Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece, the growth rate has been more pronounced, reflecting rapid improvements in digital infrastructure and financial inclusion. However, despite this progress, these countries continue to lag behind their Northern and Western counterparts, illustrating persistent disparities in digital financial access. A similar trend is evident in digital inclusion [107], measured through the frequency of internet access. Countries with higher levels of digital penetration, such as Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Denmark exhibit strong digital engagement,reinforcing their status as leaders in financial digitalization. In contrast, countries like Italy and Portugal have demonstrated slower adoption rates, pointing to gaps in digital literacy and infrastructure that may impede the transition to fully digital banking systems. The decline in the number of automated teller machines (ATMs) [107] across most EU countries signals a shift toward cashless transactions and digital banking solutions. Countries such as Belgium, Spain, and France have experienced the most significant reductions in ATMs, aligning with their strong adoption of mobile banking and contactless payment methods. In contrast, Bulgaria, Romania, and Slovakia have maintained relatively stable ATM numbers, suggesting that traditional banking services continue to play an essential role in these economies. The Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI)--Integration of Digital Technology exhibits a consistent upward trend across the EU [108], yet with varying intensities. Countries such as Poland, Italy, and Spain have recorded some of the most substantial improvements, reflecting national efforts to promote digital transformation in business and finance. By contrast, economies such as Germany and Luxembourg, despite already possessing advanced digital infrastructures, have demonstrated more moderate growth in digital integration, suggesting that they have reached a point of technological maturity. The relationship between GDP per capita [107] and banking digitalization further underscores the economic divide within the EU. Advanced economies, including Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden, maintain high GDP per capita and strong digital banking infrastructures, reinforcing the link between economic prosperity and financial innovation. Conversely, lower-income economies, such as Bulgaria and Romania, display lower GDP per capita alongside slower progress in digital banking adoption, highlighting the financial constraints that may limit technological investment. Research and development (R&D) expenditure [107] varies significantly across EU countries, reflecting different levels of commitment to financial innovation.