Measuring Financial Inclusion in India: An Approach

In light of the COVID-19-induced financial crisis, the need for robust financial services and networks has become more apparent than ever, which necessitated the accurate measurement of the breadth of financial inclusion in India. First, the study conducted a detailed critical review of the current indices and their construction methodology. Then, we created a financial inclusion index for India by accounting for the flaws existing in the current indices. The primary contribution of this study to the existing literature is the new approach it proposed for the assignment of weights in the financial inclusion index. Based on this new financial inclusion index, the study concluded that India's Southern states and union territories showed better financial inclusion. In contrast, the traditionally backward BIMARU states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, and a few of the North Eastern states of India, lagged. The study also provided a refined and inclusive definition of financial inclusion based on its new approach to index creation. © 2023, Associated Management Consultants Pvt. Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Global assessment of the COVID-19 impact on IFRS 9 loan loss provisions

PurposeThis article aims to analyze the impact of COVID-19 measures by governments and central banks on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) 9 loan loss provisions (LLPs). Changes in the total amount of LLPs, distribution of outstanding loan balance among IFRS 9 stages and credit risk parameters used for calculation are investigated for each world region where banks report under IFRS.Design/methodology/approachData for a global selection of 105 banks reporting under IFRS were collected from 2019 to 2020 annual reports, financial statements, and Pillar III reports. These data provide the basis to empirically analyze the impact of COVID-19 on LLPs.FindingsIn most world regions Stage 2 balances increase while Stage 3 balances remain comparatively stable. The credit risk parameters used for computing LLPs remained stable in 2020. However, in China, the impact of COVID-19 on banks was not detected. Mean Stage 1 balances for Chinese banks increased slightly during the pandemic. Aside from the COVID-19 impact, we find that LLPs, credit risk parameters, and loss absorption capacities are significantly lower for banks in Canada, Oceania and Western Europe compared to those in the rest of the world.Originality/valueThere exists previous research examining the COVID-19 impact on financial stability, implementation of emergency rules and country-wide analyses to anticipate default rates depending on recovery scenarios. However, this is the first global study on the immediate impact of COVID-19 on LLPs. It reveals the significant differences between world regions and provides implications about their resilience against future credit shocks.

Measuring Financial Inclusion in India: An Approach

In light of the COVID-19-induced financial crisis, the need for robust financial services and networks has become more apparent than ever, which necessitated the accurate measurement of the breadth of financial inclusion in India. First, the study conducted a detailed critical review of the current indices and their construction methodology. Then, we created a financial inclusion index for India by accounting for the flaws existing in the current indices. The primary contribution of this study to the existing literature is the new approach it proposed for the assignment of weights in the financial inclusion index. Based on this new financial inclusion index, the study concluded that India's Southern states and union territories showed better financial inclusion. In contrast, the traditionally backward BIMARU states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, and a few of the North Eastern states of India, lagged. The study also provided a refined and inclusive definition of financial inclusion based on its new approach to index creation. © 2023, Associated Management Consultants Pvt. Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Perspectives and parameters for the use of digital banking

For fear of Covid-19 infection, the population opted for the use of technological means to make payments by electronic means deciding to use other means of payment (credit or debit card) to perform any type of banking service, hence the banks offer cards with different benefits, the objective is to measure the perspectives and parameters requested by users to obtain a credit or debit card, with a descriptive, quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational and predictive study, with a sample of 1646 surveys conducted online and anonymously, using the measurement instrument with questions about digital banking (pre and post pandemic) whose parameters are digital banking services and motivational factors for its use. The results show that users are increasingly interested in adopting digital band services in a meaningful way. In conclusion the measurement instrument is suitable for application, parameters such as cellular service (App) and account status information are priority for the population. © 2022 IEEE.

Is the Covid-19 Pandemic Rewriting the Rules of Corporate Governance in Nigeria?

The corona virus (covid-19) pandemic which started as a public health emergency swiftly evolved into a global financial and economic crisis of epic proportions. Thus, it had a far-reaching effect on Nigerian corporations. The advent of covid-19 seems to have changed the guiding principles of corporate governance from the agency theory to stakeholder theory due to the heightened expectations for societal engagement from corporations in Nigeria. For instance, the management of Access Bank which donated 1 Billion and other materials like ambulances to the Federal Government of Nigeria, decided to downsize staff by 75 percent in the same week. The outcry by the public on the challenges caused by the aforesaid huge donation vis-à-vis the redundancy policy led Access Bank 's management to reverse its earlier decision and for the regulatory body for the banking industry, the Central Bank of Nigeria, to prohibit all banks in Nigeria from retrenching their employees during the pendency of the pandemic. The article examines the impact of covid-19 on corporate governance in Nigeria through the prism of stakeholder theories of corporate governance. The authors submit that covid-19 has a profound effect on corporate governance in Nigeria and it seems to be inducing a review and amendment of certain provisions of Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 to promote good corporate governance in Nigeria.

Early impact of Covid-19 on private sector employees finance homeownership in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Purpose>For almost two years, the economic shocks and financial uncertainty created by the Covid-19 pandemic have affected all sectors. The private sector employees may be the worst hit. This is because of the lockdown across many countries, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), leading to income irregularities. Studies exploring private-sector employees concerning housing finance for the houses purchased and how the lockdown has affected their sources of income for repayment plans are scarce. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the possible early negative impacts of Covid-19 on private sector employees' housing finance homeownership in KSA.Design/methodology/approach>A phenomenology type of qualitative research was used. Data were sourced from three cities (Riyadh, Al-Qassim and Medina) and three mortgage banks across KSA. Virtual interviews via Zoom and WhatsApp video calls were conducted with engaged participants (bankers, government agencies and private sector employees). Thematic analysis was adopted, and the analysed data was presented in themes.Findings>Findings show that the partial and full lockdown resulted in income irregularities in many private businesses. Also, findings identified downsizing, leading to large-scale unemployment, half-monthly income for employees, loss of profit, human resources wastage, etc. Findings reveal that because of the economic shock, many homeowners have not been able to meet up with their monthly mortgage repayment obligation. Also, the absence of financial support in form of socioeconomic needs has not helped the matter.Research limitations/implications>The paper is limited to the early negative impacts of Covid-19 on private sector employees' housing finance homeownership in KSA and data collected via Zoom and WhatsApp video calls across the three main cities. The recommendations that will emerge from this study may be adopted by other Gulf and Islamic countries with similar homeownership repayment challenges.Practical implications>This study would stir key stakeholders, especially the policymakers and mortgage institutions to consider future policy principles that focus on who is at the highest risk for housing-related hardships because of the Covid-19 or future pandemic. The outcome can be used to develop an equitable housing policy framework to foster long-term economic mobility and be validated in the future by scholars.Originality/value>Similar research in this area is limited, which makes this study one of the pioneering attempts to investigate the early negative impacts of Covid-19 on private sector employees' housing finance homeownership in KSA. The paper sheds light on the emerged early negative impacts and proffer feasible possible solutions to promote homeownership amongst Saudi citizens.

Financialization, Structural Power, and the Global Financial Crisis for Europe's Core and Periphery

In the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), European governments intervened to support domestic financial systems;several years later, peripheral European economies were at greater risk of having domestic financial crises transform into fiscal crises. While mainstream economic thinking predicts financial markets will punish risky bank behavior with higher interest rates and punitive resolution measures, in fact, banks in core European economies, which engaged in riskier activity in the subprime mortgage market, faced preferential treatment in the aftermath of the GFC. This article argues that financialization, the increased structural economic power of financial institutions, increased the structural power of core members of the Eurozone to direct supranational policies after the GFC. It supports these claims with financial data from balance sheets for a sample of EU economies, as well as institutional analysis of the financial aspects of European integration, and the financial, monetary, and fiscal responses that followed the onset of the GFC. While banks in the Eurozone core were more likely to have engaged in risky behavior, they were more likely to receive liquidity assistance from monetary authorities like the Federal Reserve due to their activity in the US. As Eurozone governments consider how to respond to crises, such as the Covid-19 pandemic going forward, policies that more equitably support governments rescuing domestic financial actors should be considered in tandem with broader financial regulations of structurally important economic institutions.

THE NEED TO ELIMINATE MISMANAGEMENT AND CORRUPTION IN ISLAMIC SOCIAL FINANCE INSTITUTIONS

Semasa pandemik COVID-19, telah jelas bahawa kewangan sosial Islam (ISF) perlu diinstitusikan disebabkan ketidakcukupan kewangan komersial Islam dalam menyediakan penyelesaian kewangan yang mencukupi untuk mencapai kewangan menyeluruh. Oleh yang demikian, penumpuan ISF dengan kewangan komersial Islam sedang terserlah manakala penginstitusian ISF menunjukkan momentum global. Walau bagaimanapun, setakat ini, tiada tatacara tadbir urus komprehensif yang digubal untuk mengawal selia institusi ISF bagi membimbing institusi terbabit dalam menawarkan produk dan perkhidmatan kewangan mereka mengikut parameter Syariah termasuk mengelakkan rasuah. Oleh itu, objektif penyelidikan ini adalah untuk meneroka salah urus dan amalan rasuah yang wujud dalam mengurus ISF dan mencadangkan cara untuk mengatasinya. Bagi mencapai objektif, kajian ini menggunakan analisis dokumen sebagai metodologi penyelidikannya untuk menyemak dan membincangkan pengurusan terpilih dan amalan rasuah institusi ISF yang dilaporkan di seluruh dunia. Adalah dijangkakan bahawa penemuan dari kajian ini akan membantu penggubal dasar, badan penetapan standard untuk kewangan Islam dan institusi ISF untuk menyedari kepentingan mengamalkan amalan tadbir urus yang baik untuk membawa ISF ke peringkat seterusnya. Penyelidikan lanjut boleh dijalankan untuk mengkaji keberkesanan menerima pakai amalan tadbir urus yang baik oleh institusi ISF dan implikasi menerima pakai amalan tersebut.Alternate :During the COVID-19 pandemic, it became apparent that Islamic social finance (ISF) must be institutionalised due to inadequacies of Islamic commercial finance in providing adequate financial solutions to achieve financial inclusion. As such, the convergence of ISF with Islamic commercial finance is emerging while institutionalisation of ISF is gaining momentum globally. However, so far, there is no comprehensive governance code enacted to regulate the ISF institutions to guide them in the offering of their financial products and services within the parameters of Shari'ah, which include avoidance of corruption. Therefore, the objective of this research is to explore the existing mismanagement and corrupt practices found in managing the ISF and to recommend ways to overcome them. To meet its objective, this study adopts document analysis as its research methodology to review and discuss the selected management and corrupt practices of ISF institutions reported worldwide. It is anticipated that findings of this paper would assist policymakers, standard-setting bodies for Islamic finance, and ISF institutions to realise the significance of adopting good governance practices to take ISF to the next level. Further research could be undertaken to study the effectiveness of adopting good governance practices by ISF institutions and the implications of adopting such practices.

Counter Streams: Organizing the Dakar 2022 Alternative World Water Forum

On the one hand, the most violent expressions of global capitalism can be seen in the acts of depriving the most marginalized populations of water, whether through corporate control or structural reforms imposed by international financial institutions on debt-ridden governments. [...]despite claims that the WWF is open to all, its registration fee of 450 euros is unaffordable to most ordinary citizens, especially those most adversely impacted by water shortages, pollution, and lack of access. The Blue Planet Project, Public Services International, Africans Rising, Engineering Without Borders Spain, African Ecofeminist Collective, African Water Commons Collective, Ecumenical Water Justice Network of the World Council of Churches, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, Platform for Community Partnerships of the Americas (PAPC), the Interamerican Water Justice Network (REDVIDA), and the European Water Movement. [...]we organized multiple decentralised meetings, webinars on regional water struggles and solidarities connecting communities of struggle and issues including feminist political economy and ecology, water privatization, water financialisation (water went onto the stock market in California in 2021), and water-related impacts of Covid. While there have been waves of regional water mobilization (and demobilization) across the continent, there was no readymade African coalition working on water justice issues when the World Water Council announced its 9th Forum in Dakar.

The impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the banking system in Romania

The banking sector is one of the most important sectors for the economy of a country, being the one that supports the functioning of the market and that contributes to the achievement of economic growth. In this paper, we proposed that, starting from the statistical data published in the databases regarding Romania, to characterize the functioning of the banking system during the Covid-19 pandemic. The data were processed and analyzed with the help of some statistical indicators used in the analysis of time series (absolute change with a fixed base, absolute change with a chain base, the dynamic index with a fixed base, the dynamic index with a mobile base and the rhythm of the dynamics) and stood at the basis for formulating conclusions regarding how the banking system in Romania faced the challenges of the 2018-2020 period. At the same time, the strengths and weaknesses that characterized the banking system were identified, so that in the future, measures can be taken to avoid the risks resulting from the emergence of economic, health, social, etc. crises.

Improving competitiveness and profitability in the Namibian retail-banking sector

Multiple financial institutions are struggling to survive in the current business environment, due to the challenges that arose due to outbreak of COVID 19 and subsequent economic contraction in Namibia. The outbreak of war in Ukraine where Russia is attacking Ukraine has made the business operating environment more challenging in Namibia. The contemporary economic challenges require different types of leadership that are able to accurately assess the business environment, and then initiate innovative and creative approaches to addressing them. This research was motivated by the need to explore a leadership style that would be able to help banks to cope with the harsh business environment and also to suggest innovative approaches and strategies that could lead to profitability and competitiveness of the banking sector in Namibia. The study employed a quantitative research approach to analyse the relationship between leadership style and bank profitability and competitiveness. Four branches were selected in Namibia from two regions, to take part in the study, with a population of 164 employees and management. A sample size that represented more than 60% of the population was selected utilizing, using a stratified sampling method. The data analyses were done usingKruskal Wallis Test and the Mann-Whitney Test, as well as the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and regression analysis.The findings of the study demonstrated that bank profitability and competitiveness in Namibia was linked to leadership styles such as transformational leadership and authentic leadership. The study also noted that organizational style can improve by embracing transformational and authentic leadership style. The study recommended that financial institutions must invest more in developing leadership styles that can lead to more productivity and profitability.

Construction of a volatility index from exchange-traded dollar–rupee options

Purpose>This paper aims to propose the implied volatility index for the US dollar–Indian rupee pair (INRVIX). The study seeks to examine whether INRVIX truly reflects future USDINR (US Dollar-Indian rupee) volatility and signals profitable currency trading strategies.Design/methodology/approach>Two measures of INRVIX are constructed and compared: a model-free version based on the methodology adopted by the Chicago Board of Options Exchange (CBOE) and a model-dependent version constructed from Black–Scholes–Merton-implied volatility. The proposed INRVIX is computed by tweaking some parameters of the CBOE methodology to ensure compatibility with the microstructure of the Indian currency derivatives market. The volatility forecasting ability of INRVIX is compared to that of a generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (1,1) model. Ordinary least squares regression is used to examine the relationship between n-day-ahead USDINR returns and different quantiles of INRVIX.Findings>Results indicate that INRVIX based on the model-free approach reflects ex post volatility in a better manner than its model-dependent counterpart, although neither measure is found to be an unbiased and efficient forecast. Subsample analysis across tranquil and turbulent periods corroborates the results. The volatility forecasting performance of INRVIX is found to be better than that of forecasts based on historical time-series. These results are consistent with similar studies of developed market currencies. The study does not find any significant relationship between extreme levels of INRVIX and the profitability of trading strategies based on such levels, which is contrary to results from the equity options market.Practical implications>Foreign exchange volatility affects the costs of international trade and the external sector competitiveness of Indian multinationals. It is a significant risk factor for financial institutions and traders in the financial markets. An implied VIX for the USDINR could serve as an indicator of expected foreign exchange risk. It could thus provide a signal for a possible intervention in the forex market by the regulator. Regulators could introduce volatility derivative contracts based on the INRVIX. Such contracts would enable hedging of the pure volatility risk of dollar–rupee exposure. Thus, the study has practical implications for investors, hedgers, regulators and academicians alike.Originality/value>To the author’s knowledge, this is one of a few studies to construct an implied VIX for an emerging currency like the rupee. The study is based on up-to-date sample data that includes the recent COVID-19 market crash. A novel contribution of this paper is that in addition to examining whether INRVIX contains information about future USDINR volatility, and it also examines the signalling power of INRVIX for currency trading strategies.

Bank-specific performance indicators, macroeconomic variables and capital adequacy of Nigerian banking industry

[...]we canvass those Nigerian banks should reduce dividend payouts and increase retained profits as a buffer against exposed risks. To ensure the healthiness of banks in the banking industry as well as facilitate international transaction, the central bank of ten countries (Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, the UK and the US) formed the committee of banking supervision in 1988 (the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision). Since the formation of this committee, it has undergone at least three stages called the Basel I, Basel II and Basel III. Premised on shock to the economy brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, with economic growth in 2020 expected to contract by as much as 4.4 percent to 8.94 percent, a drop in oil receipt and a devalued Naira in the range of 380-450 to US dollar, the capital adequacy of banks could be severely threatened, (Egba, 2020). [...]scholars have extensively shown that bank specific performance indicators and macroeconomic factors affected capital adequacy ratio. [...]this paper examined the effect of banks specific-performance indicators and macroeconomic factors on bank financing which is the minimum funds required for their short-term obligation or capital adequacy ratio.

ESG Controversies: A Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis for the Sociopolitical Determinants in EU Firms

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria are novel and exciting tools of corporate disclosure for decision making. Using quantitative and qualitative analyses, the present study examined the key characteristics and trends of ESG controversies in the European market. At the same time, it identified the controversies’ determinants. A bibliometric analysis was the qualitative method employed on the data derived from Scopus using Biblioshiny software, an R package. The quantitative analysis involved an international sample of 2278 companies headquartered in Europe from 2017–2019 being studied using a Generalized Linear Model. The findings of this research highlighted the role of the “S” and the “G” dimensions of the ESG controversies as the most crucial in affecting controversies. Women are under-represented in the business hierarchy, but their natural characteristics such as friendliness and peaceability lead to a low level of illegal business practices. However, independent of gender, executives have personal gains that they want to satisfy. Thus, executives may become involved in unethical practices and harm their colleagues and the business’s reputation. On the other hand, democracy emerged as one of the most disputed factors. Democracy gives people the voice to express themselves and publicly support their ideas without restrictions. Although, the regression results showed that democracy is not always operated as the “pipe of peace” and can affect, to some extent, controversies.

Towards an Understanding of FinTech Users’ Adoption: Intention and e-Loyalty Post-COVID-19 from a Developing Country Perspective

Earlier literature has shown that the implementation of FinTech innovations is not only determined by banks, financial institutions, or government support, but also by the perception and experiences of FinTech users. FinTech research has shown encouraging findings from scholars in developed countries. However, little is known about the users’ acceptance and use of FinTech in Jordan. The aim of this study is to investigate the determinants of users’ intentions and e-Loyalty toward FinTech adoption in Jordan post the COVID-19 era. A conceptual framework was developed by integrating the four original constructs of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT), namely performance expectancy (PE), effort expectancy (EE), social influence (SI), and facilitating conditions (FC), with three additional factors: personal innovativeness (PI), financial literacy (FL), and uncertainty avoidance (UA). In addition, the proposed model considered the e-Loyalty of FinTech users as a consequence of having a good FinTech experience. A quantitative approach using a cross-sectional online questionnaire was applied to collect data from 423 FinTech users. Data were analyzed utilizing structural equation modeling (SEM) based on AMOS 26.0 software package. The findings revealed that UA has a moderating effect on the relationship between FC and users’ intentions. Also, PI has a significant impact on PE and EE. While PE, SI, and FC are factors that enhance behavioral intentions. In return, it builds users’ e-Loyalty toward FinTech services and is deemed a new normal behavior. This study may help FinTech service providers and policymakers better understand the, currently relatively low, usage rate of FinTech, and how it contributes to the development of strategies that boost the acceptance and e-Loyalty of FinTech by Jordanian users after the COVID-19 era, where FinTech is still considered an innovation.

Local Government Debt, Financial Circle, and Sustainable Economic Development

Local government debt is the biggest “gray rhino” of China’s economy and one of the most significant factors affecting the sustainability of economic growth. We use the macroeconomic data of China’s real economy development level and local government debt from 2000 to 2020 to investigate the impact of local government debt on the real economy using the spatial Durbin model, focusing on the impact of the local government debt scale on the development of the real economy in jurisdictions and non-jurisdictions and the intermediation effect of finance under the geospatial correlation characteristics of economic development. The results show that the spatial correlation of the real economy between jurisdictions prevails and the correlation deepens over time. The scale of local government debt in China has exceeded a reasonable threshold, and the crowding-out effect of debt expansion on the real economy is obvious and not limited by jurisdictions, with significant spatial spillover effects. Financial marketization can effectively mitigate the crowding-out effect of local government debt on the real economy. These findings provide useful references for mapping the correlated development characteristics of local government debt and the real economy in China, effectively preventing local government debt risks and high leverage of the real economy and financial systemic risks, and providing effective insights for other countries to resolve government debt problems, prevent crises, and promote local economic development.

Lender financial reporting incentives and loan prioritization during the Paycheck Protection Program

Purpose>This study contributes to a growing body of literature on the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) by examining how lender incentives affected prioritization of large borrowers. In addition, this study separately examines incentives for commercial banks and credit unions during the program.Design/methodology/approach>Using 2020 PPP loan data, the authors create a proxy for lender loan prioritization by comparing the skewness statistics of large and small loan distributions. A regression model is used to examine lender reporting incentives and loan prioritization.Findings>Results show that larger borrowers were prioritized in receiving PPP loans earlier. Lenders with financial reporting concerns and commercial banks favored large borrowers to a greater extent.Practical implications>This study may inform social planners and regulators about the benefits and costs of delegating emergency funding loan decisions to financial institutions.Originality/value>The authors believe this paper is the first to examine financial institution reporting incentives in relationship to PPP lending practices. It adds novelty by examining lender incentives, while prior research has focused heavily on the economic consequences of the program and how borrower–lender relationships affected loan practices during the program.

Changing customer mindset in adopting digital financial services during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from India

Digital Financial Services (DFS) have been growing steadily all over the world. The COVID-19 crisis has reinforced the need for DFS. This study aims to examine the growth of DFS in the global and Indian markets and to analyze the factors that change the mindsets and attitudes of adults towards the adoption of DFS during the pandemic. The growth of DFS is analyzed using secondary data. The changing customer mindset is studied and analyzed through primary data collected by a survey approach. The unit of analysis includes adults who use or prefer to use DFS. A total of 384 respondents, determined by Krejcie and Morgan formula, were personally interviewed. 384 is taken as sample size as this sample size avoids type II errors in the data analysis. The collected data were processed in SPSS21 software. The study results found that technological benefits (67.9%) have the most significant positive effect on changing people's mindsets and attitudes towards DFS followed by the pandemic forces (50.7%). Peer influences (33.2%) and perceived trust (38.3%) have also affected the change in mindsets and attitudes of adults regarding DFS. But the change in mindset is significantly and positively influenced by perceived risk (50.1%) rather than affecting negatively. So, the factors are confirmed again. The factors that drive changes in mindsets and attitudes of adults towards the adoption of DFS are Pandemic Forces & Convenience, Perceived Safety and Security, User Benefits and Experiences, Peer Influences, and Perceived Trust during the pandemic. © Ravikumar T, Rajesh R, Krishna T A, Haresh R, Arjun B S, 2022.

FinTech Adoption among Online Grocery Buyers during COVID-19 Lockdowns in Nepal

FinTech has not only become a buzzword but also brought several business opportunities in the financial world, with the potential to increase financial inclusion, enhance people's daily lives, and spur growth. The issue of online buyers' knowledge about FinTech adoption has emerged from the rapid trend of digital technology in Kathmandu Valley. It also suggests that demographic variables (age and gender) and digital activity (internet experience and level of awareness) mitigate the major correlations. This paper aims to understand online grocery buyers' prior knowledge imprint in FinTech adoption during COVID-19 lockdowns. An exploratory research design was adopted, and data were collected through structured questionnaires using both descriptive and inferential statistics with the help of structural equation modeling. We find that the most respondents are aged twenty-one to forty, showing that most youth are attracted to technological innovation in FinTech (e-commerce and e-banking). We find that two-thirds of online buyers in Kathmandu Valley are facing the challenge of FinTech adoption due to slow internet and lack of awareness about its applications. The structural equation modeling shows that six out of eight constructs are fit and validated with the model. Attitude has a significant effect on actual purchases, whereas trust does not play a partial mediating role between dependent and independent variables. The internet as a digital marketplace has become an important part of marketing strategy and customer-relationship management. Thus, internet issues should be solved immediately with stable connections by internet service providers.

The Shifts In Millennial Consumer Behaviour Due To Disruption Caused By Digital Wallets In India

In a VUCA world, things are extremely unpredictable and the onset of the COVID-19 took every industry by storm. The banking industry is witnessing seismic shifts as traditional net banking banks are being challenged by new-age, digital-only wallets that focus on a hyper-personalized digital-first approach to replace the traditional net banking experience. This research aims to understand the shifts in millennial customer behaviour that have taken place as they progress from net banking to digital wallets for their day-to-day payments. This research is based on primary quantitative data along with an intensive analysis of research papers, articles, and journals. The findings suggest that millennial customers are willing to try out new digital wallet apps and consider them reliable and convenient, indicating high levels of acceptance. Three key factors were majorly responsible for the change in customer behaviour from net banking to digital wallets 1) Performance efficiency 2) social influence 3) Safety. Therefore, digital wallets need to focus on these factors to maximize their digital interactions and embrace innovation to help millennials in their day-to-day banking needs.