Research Article: 2020 Vol: 19 Issue: 1
Nasrin Jahan, Asian University of Bangladesh
Md. Julfikar Ali, International University of Scholars
Ahmed Al Asheq, World University of Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, the usage and application of internet or online banking is booming in banking sector since the last decade. Still, several banking customers, who are still reluctant to adopt internet banking as a means of conducting their financial transactions. Perhaps, the banks have not been able to satisfy their clients with their provided internet banking services. Hence, the study explores the key determinants of customer satisfaction of internet banking services in Bangladesh. 121 banking customers took part in this study as a sample. Hypotheses were developed based on past studies. The study finds that service quality of the internet banking service, security and ease of use have positive impact on online banking customer satisfaction. The study has also applied some managerial implications for banking business managers.
Internet Banking, Customer Satisfaction, Service Quality, Website Design, Security, Transaction Speed, Ease of Use.
Globally, internet progress has opened a new window for banking sector in extending a new financial mechanism. In banking industry, internet has widened an immense opportunity to provide with a platform of enhancing the quality of banking service (Rod et al., 2009). Internet banking is considered as one of the flourishing mediums of financial transaction for financial industry (Oruç & Tatar, 2017). There has been research evidence that the usage of internet banking is soaring up day by day at an increasing rate across the world (Yoon, 2010). The financial industry has started to integrate internet technology as a core part in their financial strategic mechanism (Sadeghi & Heidarzadeh, 2010). Internet banking offers new bundles of benefits for both financial institutions and banking customers. Internet has facilitated different sorts of financial transactions such as money transfer, quick payment option (Liang & Nguyen, 2018).
From a bank’s viewpoint, usage of internet is found to be more convenient and effective compared to other distribution financial channels (Alsajjan & Dennis, 2006; Hwang et al., 2007). Through internet banking, customers can easily access their financial information and statement when needed (Pikkarainen et al., 2006; Liao & Cheng, 2002) and banks can minimize their operating costs, while customers are being benefitted due to the speed, availability and convenience of internet banking options. It is very important for banks to identify customer needs and wants to satisfy them (Ali & Raza, 2017; Vera & Trujillo, 2013).
From the strategic point of view, internet banking service has enabled the respective banks differentiated from other traditional banks in terms of value addition to the customer needs and demands in the era of digitalization (Moghavvemi et al., 2018; Zameer et al., 2015; Zafar et al., 2012). Since, more people are using internet based online banking services in current time, it is essential for the researchers to shift their research attention to customer satisfaction of internet banking users (Mäenpää et al., 2008). On the other hand, banking sector is rapidly growing day by day in Bangladesh. Also, internet adoption among general public is also rising. The intensity of internet banking penetration has been significantly increasing among the Bangladeshi banks. All banks in Bangladesh have their own websites through which they are providing online banking services. To retain online customers ratio, it is strategically imperative for Bangladeshi banks to satisfy their online banking users. Research studies on exploration of customer satisfaction factors are limited in Bangladesh context. Accordingly, the prime aim of this study is to determine factors which would satisfy online customers in Bangladesh.
Internet banking has gaining higher level attraction from the customers nowadays. Internet banking is a medium of financial transaction that can be facilitated through internet connectivity (Santouridis et al., 2009; Naana Adams & Odartey Lamptey, 2009). Due to technological advancement and continues innovation in financial sector, online banking has been growingly adopted by the traditional banking customers (George & Kumar, 2014; Munusamy et al., 2010). On the other hand, satisfied customers tend to buy the same product continuously in the future (Agolla et al., 2018). It is indicated that banks who are more innovative, are likely to retain their customers (Malinconico & Fuccio, 2016). Hence, it is paramount for the bank managers to satisfy their customers by providing competitive technology based services. The following part describes the literature review on key determinants of internet banking customer satisfaction.
Service Quality
Service Quality is taken place when customers evaluate their past service experiences with current service experiences (Naik et al., 2010). In online banking segment, online service quality has been crucial for banks because, it would impact online banking user’s satisfaction (Ayo et al., 2016). Amin (2016) has found that e-service quality is significant determinant of online banking customer satisfaction. Hence, it is assumed that
H1 Service quality will have positive impact on online banking customer satisfaction.
Design of Website and Website’s Content
Website design has been essential in retaining the adoption of internet banking that would stimulate customer’s satisfaction (Ahmad & Al-Zu'bi, 2011). Content of the website also influences customer’s content. Ling et al. (2016) found a positive relationship between bank’s web design and their internet banking customers’ satisfaction. Hence, it is assumed that
H2 Design of Website and Website’s content will positively influence internet banking customers’ satisfaction.
Security
Security has remained a significant issue for internet banking. If the security issues can be tackled then online banking customers will be more satisfied with their transaction (Liao & Cheung, 2008). Also, there has been a positive association between security and electronic customers’ satisfaction (Yoon, 2010). It is proposed that
H3 Security will positively influence internet banking customers’ satisfaction.
Transaction Speed
The speed of financial transaction has remained as one of the attractions for online banking users. This notion, in form of response time, is often considered as an indicator of customer satisfaction (Liao & Cheung, 2008). Hence, it can be hypothesized that
H4 Transaction speed will positively influence internet banking customers’ satisfaction.
Ease of Use
Research suggests that ease of use, as a medium of convenience, is found as an influential factor of customer’s satisfaction (Al-dweeri et al., 2017). Online banking customers generally search for easy and smooth method of facilitating online transaction (Ainin et al., 2005). Hence, it is proposed that
H5 Ease of use will positively influence internet banking customers’ satisfaction.
The study has obtained sample from the university students in Bangladesh who were perceived to be a user of online banking services. A structured questionnaire was distributed randomly among the students at university campus and different shopping malls. A total of 150 questionnaires was distributed, and in return, 121 responses were collected who have filled up the questionnaire (Table 1). The first part questionnaire is based on basic demographic information of the respondents and the final part exhibits variable wise five-point Likert scale questionnaire to measure each of the study’s variables. The study has used SPSS version 23.0 for descriptive statistics and hypotheses testing. The study has adopted questionnaire from the following studies:
| Table 1: Reference Studies For Item Wise Questionnaire | |
| Customer Satisfaction | Yoon (2010) |
| Design of Website and Website’s content | |
| Security | |
| Transaction Speed | |
| Ease of Use | |
| Service Quality | Alsudairi (2012) |
According to the regression result, the model explained 32.6% (R2= 0.326) of overall variance in explaining internet banking customer satisfaction by the five independent variables. Table 2 shows that out of five variables, service quality (H1), security (H3) and ease of use (H5) have been statistically significant determinant of customer satisfaction; while website design (H2) and transaction speed (H4) have no influence on customer satisfaction in using internet banking. It does imply that hypotheses H1, H3 and H5 are accepted at 5% significance level.
In this study, service quality positively impacts internet banking customer satisfaction. The result is consistent with past studies (Radhakrishna, 2009; Rod et al., 2009). It means higher level of service quality of internet banking facilities will imperatively guarantee higher customer satisfaction. Design of website and content is not found significant as H2 is not supported in the study. The result does not match with previous studies. Perhaps, Bangladeshi online banking customers are more concern about the other attributes of internet banking rather than focusing on the website and its content. H3 is supported which means that strong security of the internet banking will satisfy banking customers. The result is in line with prior studies (Yoon, 2010).
Transaction speed is found as insignificant variable of customer satisfaction as H4 is rejected in this study. The result is not consistent with other research findings (Naana Adams & Odartey Lamptey, 2009). The regression result also confirms that H5 is accepted, indicating ease of use will positive affect internet banking customer satisfaction. Previous studies support this finding (Amin, 2016; Yoon, 2010; Zavareh et al., 2012; Ariff et al., 2013). Ease of use is used to describe the extent of convenience. As ease of use has a positive association with customer satisfaction; hence an augmented degree of convenience of internet banking will enhance bank’s customer satisfaction.
| Table 2: Regression Analysis | |||||
| t-value | p-value | Tolerance | VIF | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Quality | 2.222 | 0.029 | 0.469 | 2.132 | Accepted |
| Design of Website and Website’s content | 0.933 | 0.354 | 0.616 | 1.624 | Not accepted |
| Security | 4.120 | 0.000 | 0.527 | 1.897 | Accepted |
| Transaction Speed | 1.132 | 0.261 | 0.505 | 1.981 | Not accepted |
| Ease of Use | 2.101 | 0.039 | 0.380 | 2.634 | Accepted |
| a = 0.05; R2= 0.326 | |||||
| Durbin Watson value = 2.150 | |||||
The study seeks to determine the customer satisfaction factors of internet banking in Bangladesh. Service quality, website design, security, transaction speed and ease of use have been considered as independent variables in this study which might have influence on internet banking. It has been found that except website design and transaction speed, service quality, security and ease of use have significant impact on customer satisfaction who use internet banking in Bangladesh. The findings of this study also highlight some managerial implications for banking managers. The internet banking service providers will more emphasize on the enhancement of electronic service quality in order to satisfy their customers. The results are stimulus for financial managers to focus more on assuring robust security within their online banking platform. Although website design and transaction speed does not have any significance on customer satisfaction in this study, still the higher management of the banking sectors must consider these factors while developing their internet banking platform. Furthermore, it is imperative for internet bankers to receive regular feedback from their online customers regarding the convenience of using internet banking.