Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management (ETDs)
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://hdl.handle.net/10539/37778
For queries relating to content and technical issues, please contact IR specialists via this email address : openscholarship.library@wits.ac.za, Tel: 011 717 4652 or 011 717 1954
Browse
4 results
Search Results
Item Financial inclusion through WhatsApp banking in Johannesburg(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Miller, Jade Rowan; Balabanoff,GarthApproximately three billion people will use mobile banking by 2024. Mobile devices and widespread Internet access are helping to boost mobile banking's popularity. Retail banks can now offer their customers even more convenience with mobile banking applications like WhatsApp. Consumers and financial institutions have embraced advanced technologies, including mobile banking, in recent years. Social media, mobile banking and new ideas like WhatsApp banking have made it easier for people to do business. Mobile banking is now possible thanks to high smartphone penetration and technological advancements. The fourth industrial revolution will continue to exponentially transform the modern economy. Globalisation has forced banks to open new channels to remain competitive in today's market. Banks have had to cut costs and improve their financial position by introducing new products and services. Mobile banking has grown rapidly globally due to the rapid development of information technology. Due to multi-channel distribution, most banks now have a global presence with cross-border customers. A quantitative approach was taken to examine factors that may influence behavioural intention to use WhatsApp banking in the context of financial inclusion. A questionnaire was used as the primary data collection instrument. The survey was conducted using an online questionnaire distributed to people living in Johannesburg, South Africa. The study adds to the body of knowledge by identifying factors that influence WhatsApp banking adoption, particularly in developing countries. The Technology Acceptance Model by Davis (1985) was used to investigate behavioural intention to use WhatsApp banking. My findings show that perceived trust, banking inclusion, perceived usefulness and awareness all play a significant role in WhatsApp banking adoption. Managers in financial institutions should focus on increasing consumer trust across all age groups to increase customer comfort with non-traditional banking platforms in general and thus increase financial inclusion. This is crucial because ix WhatsApp banking has the potential to bank the unbanked and underbanked while also increasing financial inclusion.Item Factors influencing Fintech adoption among the unbanked in South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Matsimbi, Kagiso Hetisani; Totowa, JacquesFinancial technology (Fintech) has emerged as a transformative force in the global financial landscape, promising increased accessibility and efficiency in financial services. However, its adoption among unbanked populations, particularly in South Africa, remains limited, posing a significant barrier to financial inclusion and economic empowerment. This study explores the factors influencing the adoption of Fintech among unbanked South Africans, with a focus on accessibility, trust, technological literacy, user interfaces and socio-economic barriers. Through an exploratory approach, in the form of semi- structured interviews, data was collected from market research professionals with extensive research experience in the financial services and Fintech industry. The findings reveal that while there is a growing awareness of Fintech services, several key factors hinder widespread adoption, including limited digital literacy, concerns over security and trust, and challenges related to accessibility and affordability. Additionally, socio- economic factors such as income levels, infrastructure and geographic location play a significant role in shaping adoption behaviours. Based on these findings, recommendations are proposed to enhance digital literacy, increase accessibility, build trust in Fintech services, simplify user experience, tailor financial products, and foster community engagement to encourage adoption. Addressing these factors is essential for unlocking the potential of Fintech to drive financial inclusion and empowerment among unbanked South Africans, ultimately contributing to broader socio-economic development goals.Item The experience of participants in the South African fintech ecosystem(2021) Mncube, Lemuel BrandonThe overall aim of the study was to determine the experiences of participants in the South African fintech ecosystem. The key participants in the fintech ecosystem were start-ups, government, financial institutions, customers and technology developers. Theories relating to the study were discussed in this research. The dissertation was based on qualitative research techniques, and the phenomenological methodology was used in the study. The target population was the players in the South African fintech ecosystem. A sample size of fourteen participants was drawn from the target population using purposive non-probability sampling. Interviews were used for data collection. Data were analysed using thematic data analysis. The research findings showed that poor governmental support, innovation, restrictive regulations weakening the ecosystem cohesion, poor coordination among stakeholders, the ability to scale the business, local culture, market competition and internal conflicts or disagreements between business partners were the key factors that affected the success of financial technologies in the South African ecosystem. In terms of policy recommendations, it was suggested that there was a need for increased collaboration between players in the fintech ecosystem, workshops and training programmes as well as improved financial inclusionItem Does the development of mobile financial services have an impact on financial inclusion in Lesotho?: the case of M-Pesa and eco-cash(2020) Jonathan, Mantai Mamello FlorenceThe purpose of this study is to assess the effect that the growth of mobile financial services hashad on financial inclusion in Lesotho. The research focused on the two leading mobile network operators (MNOs), Econet Lesotho and Vodacom Lesotho, who launched the country's two Mobile Money services. Over the years, Mobile Money services have increased rapidly, largely replacing the traditional way of banking in the everyday lives of Basotho people. The study aimed at examining the reasons for this transition and how this new development has affected Lesotho in general. The report contains arguments that Mobile Money was indeed an invention that most people welcomed. The study found that most individuals prefer the use of mobile financial services to that of banks for various reasons: some indicated that bank charges are too costly for them; many who reside in rural areas do not have access to bank branches as they are usually located in the city; many also complained about the extensive documentation required to open a bank account. Although the government of Lesotho has implemented various means and strategies in the past in an attempt to increase financial inclusion in Lesotho, this has not been successful. The study used quantitative methods to examine the effect of mobile financial services on financial inclusion. Primary data was collected through the distribution of self-administered structured questionnaires on a sampled population of 114 individuals. For rigorous empirical testing of the data, secondary data was used to unravel the extent of the impact of mobile financial services on financial inclusion. However, both primary and secondary data were essential for reaching the final conclusions and findings of the study. Therefore, after all the analyses and evaluations, it was concluded that, despite its challenges, Mobile Money has improved the financial inclusivity of the many unbanked residents of Lesotho.