Author(s)
Leebana Gracy I
- Manuscript ID: 140060
- Volume: 2
- Issue: 2
- Pages: 57–66
Subject Area: Business and Management
Abstract
Women business owners in underdeveloped countries are the focus of this study, which seeks to understand how their level of financial literacy affects their use of online banking. The expansion of digital financial technology is making it more important than ever to identify the factors that encourage or discourage women from participating. The general objective of the research is to investigate the role of the socioeconomic, technical and educational variables in the process of adopting them and how financial literacy affects the digital banking behaviour. Using a structured online questionnaire, 268 women entrepreneurs from urban, semi-urban, and rural areas were surveyed using a quantitative technique. An analysis of variance (ANOVA), regression (R), and Pearson correlation (PC) demonstrated the existence of a positive, statistically significant correlation between financial literacy and the effective use of banking services provided through the Internet. Tools like UPI, online banking, and mobile applications are more commonly used by those with higher incomes, higher levels of education, and more experience with technology. But obstacles including distrust of online fraud, outdated technology, and a lack of computer knowledge continue, particularly for women who are less financially literate. The findings highlight the need for digital skill development and targeted financial education programs to increase inclusive financial participation. This study has important policy, non-governmental organization (NGO), and financial institution (FI) implications for promoting women's economic empowerment through digital financial inclusion. While there are some limitations to consider, such as the use of self-reported data and the fact that some participants did not have access to the internet, the research does offer valuable insights into how gender, technology, and finance connect. It demands institutional changes to help more women participate in the developing digital financial ecosystem and close the literacy gap.