Cell phone banking: predictors of adoption in South Africa—an exploratory study

This study examines the factors that influence the adoption of cell phone banking in South Africa, as a means of understanding how to possibly increase the rate of adoption.

Abstract

Cell phone usage has grown phenomenally in Africa, and particularly in South Africa where initial growth forecasts have been greatly exceeded. This technology therefore provides opportunities for services such as banking to reach critical mass. All major retail banks in South Africa provide cell phone banking, but very few customers actually use it. This study examines the factors that influence the adoption of cell phone banking in South Africa, as a means of understanding how to possibly increase the rate of adoption. A framework developed in Singapore identifying factors influencing the adoption of Internet banking was used as a basis, and amended to assess cell phone banking. Factors identified as influences included relative advantage, trialability, and consumer banking needs, with perceived risk having a major negative influence.