DRIVERS INFLUENCE THE CUSTOMER'S WILLINGNESS TOWARDS FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY FIRMS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC – EVIDENCE FROM INDIA
The demonetization in the year 2016 in India, called the landmark moment for the financial technology (FinTech) firms to expand their wings and landscape, is one of the significant stimulating digital economic ecosystems eras in India. More than 21,000 FinTech companies and start-ups have made a drastic change in the indispensable part of people's lives during times of pandemics. The paper examines the drivers influencing customers' acceptance or willingness towards FinTech products and services that most studies remain unexplored. The study will review the factors like perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, users mindset, user behavior, trust, and security as the critical factor variables for accepting/rejecting the customer's decision in the direction of the fintech products and services. The data collection will be both primary and secondary methods. The survey data will be collected from google forms. A five-point Likert scale will be used to capture the responses. The descriptive and exploratory research designs are used for the study. Appropriate statistical tools such as Mean, standard deviation, muti-regression analysis, Conbranch alpha, t-test, f-test, Durban Watson test, etc., will be used. This paper will suggest the ongoing and future policy responses to the spread of the COVID-19. Ultimately, this study also gave a glow on the effects COVID-19 has on general wellbeing in the short term and points some potential areas that need extra support.
Financial Technology (FinTech), customer's willingness, perceived usefulness, ease of use, COVID-19. JEL Classification Code: G2, G4, G5