FINTECH BANKING AND ACCESS TO FINANCIAL SERVICES AMONG COMMERCIAL BANKS IN KENYA
FINTECH BANKING AND ACCESS TO FINANCIAL SERVICES AMONG COMMERCIAL BANKS IN KENYA
David Collins Adhing’a - Masters’ student, Department of Accounting and Finance, Kenyatta University, Kenya
James M. Gatauwa (PhD) - Department of Accounting and Finance, Kenyatta University, Kenya
ABSTRACT
The financial sector makes crucial contributions towards financial improvement of nations. Fintech firms have made it possible to have low-cost financial networking but its influence on accessing banking services remains unclear. The project aimed to scrutinize the impact of Fintech banking on financial accessibility, with a focus on Kenyan commercial banks. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the influence of cryptocurrency, FinTech lending, mobile and online banking on financial accessibility in Kenya. The research was founded on the theory of financial intermediation, technology acceptance model and diffusion of innovation theory. A descriptive research design was to be used and source data be acquired using semi-structured questionnaires from senior management of Kenyan commercial banks. The researcher targeted 39 Kenyan commercial banks which formed the study population. The researcher used semi-structured questionnaires to obtain data. Collected data was examined employing both descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings from the study established that embracing of financial technologies in the banking sector had affirmative and momentous impact on financial accessibility among Kenyan commercial banks. Results revealed that acceptance of mobile banking, internet banking, blockchain technology and cryptocurrency significantly influenced financial accessibility with a (P-value< 0.05). Therefore, it was concluded that adoption of FinTech in the banking sector had a noteworthy influence on financial accessibility. It is vital for commercial banks to adopt the latest financial technologies if they are to meet the fast-changing demands of their clientele. Adoption of such technologies will also play key roles in the attainment and sustainability of a competitive edge in the current volatile and dynamic business environments.
