Digital Banking as a Catalyst For Women's Non-Financial Inclusion: Institutional Practices, Barriers, and Policy Implications From Jordan

Abstract This study examines digital banking as an institutional mechanism for advancing women’s non-financial inclusion in Jordan. While financial inclusion literature has traditionally focused on access to accounts, credit, and payments, this research extends the discussion to non-financial dimensions, including financial capability, decision-making autonomy, institutional trust, digital confidence, and social agency. Anchored in social economics and institutional theory, the study adopts a mixed-methods research design with qualitative dominance. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with banking professionals, regulators, and women users, complemented by a survey of female digital banking customers. The findings demonstrate that digital banking enhances women’s autonomy, confidence, and institutional engagement, thereby contributing to inclusive and sustainable development. However, the transformative potential of digital banking remains constrained by socio-cultural norms, digital literacy gaps, regulatory rigidity, and gender-neutral platform design. The study contributes to sustainability-oriented banking literature by positioning banks as social institutions capable of advancing women’s non-financial inclusion in emerging economies.