Social and facilitating influences in fintech user intention and the fintech gender gap

Mohammed Ziaul Hoque; Nazneen Jahan Chowdhury; Al Amin Hossain; Tanjim Tabassum

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23457

Social and facilitating influences in fintech user intention and the fintech gender gap

Heliyon. 2023 Dec 12;10(1):e23457. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23457. eCollection 2024 Jan 15.

Authors

Mohammed Ziaul Hoque^{1

1

2}, Nazneen Jahan Chowdhury³, Al Amin Hossain¹, Tanjim Tabassum²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Finance, Faculty of Business Administration, University of Chittagong, Bangladesh.
² Chittagong University Centre for Business Administration, University of Chittagong, Bangladesh.
³ Dept. of Business Administration, International Islamic University, Chittagong, Bangladesh.

Abstract

Given the advances in technology, Fintech is an invaluable tool which allows unbanked people to access financial services when social, cultural, economic and technological factors affect their user intentions (UI). Despite the great importance of the role of social and facilitating influences in the adoption of Fintech services, little research has been conducted on how and what influences affect Fintech user intention (FUI) and whether there is a gender gap in FUI. Therefore, this study aims to help formulate effective Fintech policies and close the gender gap by investigating the role of social and facilitating influences and sociodemographic variables in FUI. The study sample comprised 237 participants, and the data were collected through interviews with the use of a structured questionnaire in Chattogram, Bangladesh. The collected data were analysed employing exploratory factor analysis and an ordered logistic regression model. The study also examined the Fintech gender gap by applying the Blinder Oaxaca decomposition model. The results reveal that image, compatibility and the experiences of Fintech use are the positive and significant predictors of FUI, with the perceived social norm for adopting Fintech being non-informative for users. There is a significant interaction between user compatibility and experience of use in relation to Fintech. Interestingly, perceived behavioural control negatively influenced females to adopt Fintech. Furthermore, the study found a gender gap in FUI. The findings have managerial implications.

Keywords: Compatibility; Fintech; Gender gap; Image; Perceived behavioural control; User intention.