Research background and purpose The increasing availability of the Internet enables and even encourages the use of online services and other financial products. Consequently, the concept of FinTech has become a key term associated with the financial sector. The aim of this article is to present market practices related to the implementation of financial innovations in traditional banks, to explore banks’ perceptions of FinTech companies, and to gain insights into the principles governing cooperation between banks and FinTech firms. Design/methodology/approach The research was conducted in two stages. The first stage involved analyzing both financial and non-financial reports of banks included in the Warsaw Stock Exchange stock index. In the second stage, qualitative research methods were applied. One-to-one interviews were conducted to examine relationships between banks and FinTech companies. Findings The answers obtained contributed to identifying market patterns that determine cooperation between banks and FinTech entities, assessing the strengths and weaknesses of such collaboration, and highlighting areas with potential for further development driven by market trends and regulatory requirements. Value added and limitations The conducted empirical research contributes to a deeper understanding of the cooperation between banks and FinTech entities, helping to identify its main strengths and weaknesses. The vast majority of respondents indicated that FinTech companies play a role in implementing innovations and that organizations are interested in further collaboration. These conclusions are particularly significant in light of the regulation implemented in Polish law on January 17, 2025—namely, the Regulation (EU) 2022/2554 of the European Parliament and of the Council of December 14, 2022, on the digital operational resilience of the financial sector (known as the DORA Regulation). The main limitation of the study is its focus on the Polish market and its reference to the implementation of DORA in Polish legislation.