Factors Influencing Mobile Banking Adoption among Rural Areas: A Study of Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka

Aims: This study aims to identify the key factors influencing mobile banking adoption among rural populations in Sri Lanka, with special reference to the Kurunegala District. It applies the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), incorporating perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, attitude towards use, and extends it with perceived risk to assess behavioral intentions. Study Design: A quantitative, cross – sectional research design was used to empirically test the proposed hypotheses regarding mobile banking adoption. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted among rural residents of Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka, between January and March 2024. Methodology: Primary data were gathered through a structured questionnaire based on validated TAM constructs. A sample of 400 respondents was selected with 127 males and 273 females using simple random sampling. The survey data were analyzed using SPSS – version 25.0, with exploratory factor analysis, reliability testing via Cronbach’s alpha, and multiple regression analysis used to examine the influence of each variable on mobile banking adoption. The variables tested included perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, attitude towards use and perceived risk. Results: The analysis showed that perceived usefulness (P = .006), perceived ease of use (P = .005), and attitude towards use (P = .000) significantly influenced mobile banking adoption. In contrast, perceived risk showed no statistically significant impact. Conclusion: Mobile banking adoption in rural Sri Lanka is significantly driven by perceived usefulness, ease of use, and user attitude, while perceived risk plays a minor role. This will provide managerial implications through tailored strategies focusing on user education, simplified interfaces and reinforcing perceived benefits. The originality of the study replies on digital financial inclusion in rural settings of aa developing nation.