Digital Financial Literacy and FinTech Adoption Among Rural Women Microfinance Borrowers in India: The Mediating Roles of Perceived Usefulness, Ease of Use, and Trust

Book Title: Shaping the Future: Innovation, Sustainability, and Inclusive Growth in a Globalized Economy

Editors: Editors: Dr. Shanu Singh, and Dr. Yashmita Awasthi

Student Editor: Krishna Singh Rawat

ISBN: 978-93-7183-006-5

Chapter: 30

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59646/725/30

Authors: Mr. Aman Shukla, Dr. Anamika Rawat

Abstract

Rural female microfinance borrowers in India face substantial barriers to accessing and using Financial Technology (FinTech) services due to a lack of Financial Inclusion, which is an essential catalyst for promoting sustainable economic development. Digital Financial Infrastructure systems such as Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) have multiplied rapidly in India over the past few years. Nevertheless, there remains a noticeable gap in financial account ownership when comparing those who own a bank account and can access digital financial services to those who actually do so. To address this challenge, this research proposes a comprehensive theoretical framework that investigates the relationship between Digital Financial Literacy (DFL) and FinTech adoption and how the effects of DFL on FinTech adoption are mediated by perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU) and trust.

Keywords: Digital Financial Literacy; FinTech Adoption; Technology Acceptance Model; Structural Equation Modelling; Trust; Rural Women; Microfinance; Financial Inclusion.