A study on the reasons of individual customers to prefer participation banks for fund usage in Şanlıurfa province

One of the most important branches of the service sector in our country is the banking sector, and one of the members of this group is participation banks. The operating principle and service understanding of these banks played a role in many customer's preference for participation banks.The aim of this study is to reveal whether there is a significant difference between the reasons why individuals prefer participation banks and demographic factors such as gender, age, marital status, occupation, income and education level. In line with the purpose of the research, data were collected from 410 individuals who received service from participation banks operating in Şanlıurfa. The data needed in the research were obtained by online and face-to-face survey method. The kurtosis skewness values of the factors were checked in order to determine whether the data were normally distributed. Since the obtained value is between -2 and +2, it was accepted that the data showed a normaldistribution. In this direction, analyzes in the research were made using parametric tests (t-test and Anova). A significant difference was found between the service and product policy, the interest free principle and promotion, and alternative distribution and promotion channels, which are among the sub-factors of the reasons for customers to prefer participation banks, and gender. In terms of marital status, a significant difference was found between alternative distribution and promotion channels, allocation policy and marital status. While a significant difference was found between age and all sub-factors of the reasons why individuals prefer participation banks, a significant difference was found between age and all other sub- factors, except for the card policy sub-factor, in terms of occupation. In terms of income, a significant difference was found between service and product policy, alternative distribution and promotion channels, allocation policy and income. And finally, no significant difference was found between education and all sub-factors of the reasons why individuals prefer participation banks