Abstract
M.Com. (Business Management)
The current competitive climate within the South African banking industry has put pressure on banks to either find new revenue streams mainly through innovation, or to achieve existing cost efficiencies. South African banks have increasingly looked to advancements in new technology, innovation and service distribution channels as a solution for attaining sustainable competitive advantage.
The primary objective of this study was to investigate and assess the independent variables (perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived cost, perceived privacy/ security and knowledgeability/ awareness) that influence the adoption of electronic banking channels in order to inform banks’ channel migration strategy decisions. The study attempts to close the gap in electronic banking adoption theory that exists within a South African context. The significance of the study is that due to a majority of electronic banking adoption research and models being conducted internationally, an attempt is made to investigate and apply these models within a South African context.
Based on a survey conducted among 211 respondents, the above mentioned independent and dependent variables under study were examined. The analyses revealed significant demographic and behavioural findings between the independent variables that influence consumer adoption of electronic banking channels. The perceived privacy/security variable was found to be responsible for the highest frequency of branch visits by clients mainly due to the perception that electronic banking channels are not safe to use. The independent variable, perceived usefulness, was found to have the strongest positive correlation with the adoption of electronic banking channels. These results imply that in addition to the importance of addressing privacy and security concerns associated with electronic banking, banks need to focus on improving consumer usefulness and value perceptions in their electronic banking offerings.