The Impact of Banking Integration and Partnership on the Management of Operational and Cyber ​​Risks for Electronic Payment Systems in the Libyan Banking Sector

Abstract

This study aims to measure the impact of banking integration and partnership on the effectiveness of managing operational and cyber risks of electronic payment systems in the Libyan banking sector during the period (2024-2025). The study problem crystallizes in the growing challenges of interdependency; as the expansion in technical connectivity and interoperability to enhance financial inclusion and resolve the liquidity crisis has created operational and cyber risks that transcend institutional boundaries. The study relied on the descriptive-analytical approach and used a questionnaire as a tool for data collection from a purposive sample of 40 technical and administrative staff members at (Jumhouria and Sahara) banks.

The study concluded that there is a statistically significant impact of banking integration and partnership on the effectiveness of managing operational and cyber risks of electronic payment systems. Despite tangible success in achieving technical integration with the "National Switch" at a very high approval level, this development has not been accompanied by a similar level of security integration and threat intelligence sharing. The results also proved that excessive centralized reliance on a single provider (Moamalat Company) creates "Single Points of Failure" that threaten financial stability, which explains the service interruptions in October 2025. The study recommended the necessity of transitioning to "Zero Trust" models in Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and establishing alternative and geographically distributed data centers to enhance operational resilience.