CREDIT CARD USAGE AMONG EMPLOYEES IN THE COLOMBO DISTRICT, SRI LANKA DURING POST COVID – 19

In the modern world, credit cards have emerged as a prominent cashless transaction method powered by technological advancement and its inherent convenience. As Sri Lanka's commercial hub, Colombo suffered significant consequences from the COVID-19 pandemic in the early part of 2020. It is possible that subject to gender differences and cultural norms, the pandemic's aftermath had varying effects on the economy, consumer behavior, and societal dynamics. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate how gender affects the use of credit cards by employees in the Colombo district after the COVID-19 pandemic. Employing two-stage cluster sampling 500 respondents were selected for the sample. SPSS-26 analyzed data collected through a Google Form questionnaire. Gender plays the independent variable while credit card usage was the dependent variable. An Independent two-sampled t-test was executed to scrutinize the influence of gender on credit card usage of employees. The results unveil that females display a more consistent usage pattern compared to males in the Colombo district after the COVID-19 period. Furthermore, the impact of gender on credit card usage among employees exhibits temporal and geographical variation. Notably, there is a significant difference between the credit card usage of males and females. This study recommends further exploration into the influence of gender on credit card usage among employees residing in rural areas. It would offer valuable insights for credit card service providers, merchants, policymakers, and individuals keen on comprehending the usage pattern of credit card users.