THE INFLUENCE OF MOBILE BANKING APPLICATIONS AND FINANCIAL INCLUSION ON ACCOUNT HOLDERS' ACCESS TO FINANCIAL SERVICES

Abstract

This study examined the influence of mobile banking applications on financial inclusion among account holders. A quantitative survey research methodology was used in this study, and primary data were collected through questionnaires from 200 account holders. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and simple linear regression with the help of SPSS. Results from the descriptive analysis indicated high use of mobile banking applications, with a grand mean of 4.25, whereas respondents agreed that mobile banking applications made access to financial services easier (grand mean = 4.35) and facilitated financial inclusion (grand mean = 4.27). Linear regression analysis revealed that mobile banking application use had a significant positive influence on access to financial services (β = 0.716, R² = 0.513, p < 0.05) and financial inclusion (β = 0.759, R² = 0.576, p < 0.05). It was concluded that the higher use of mobile banking applications facilitates access to financial services and enhances financial inclusion.