Factors Influencing Women’s Access of Mobile Financial Services: An Empirical Study on Sylhet Region

Abstract

In the world of today’s market, most emerging sector is mobile financial services (MFS) which played a significant role in increasing GDP in many developing countries. Like other developing and developed countries, service sectors in Bangladesh are much more conscious about women’s existence in mobile financial services. The main purpose of this study is to identify the factors that influence women’s access in mobile financial services. For conducting this study, a quantitative research methodology was followed, whilst; structured questionnaire used as main data collection instrument with survey techniques and convenience sampling procedures used for selecting respondents of this study. Collected data were analyzed by using SPSS 20.0.  Data analysis performed using through descriptive statistics, reliability test, factor analysis and regression analysis. Study found that there exist strong associative relationship between women’s access and selected factors. It also found that mobility and rules regulations are the most influential factors where speed, security, culture, norms & values and number of both branches and agents have negative influences on the women’s access in MFS. Study concludes that women’s access in mobile financial services completely depends on some influential factors those need to be considered by the mobile financial providers in Bangladesh.

Keywords: Women’s access, MFS, Influential factors