A literature review of the determinants of customer trust in electronic and mobile banking: implications for the M-Pesa system in Kenya

This thesis aims to discover the determinant factors of customer trust in mobile and electronic banking taking the case study of M-Pesa in Kenya. It will also illustrate the opportunities as well as unseen challenges of mobile and electronic banking thereby improving use and acceptance of the technology. Customer trust is considered a critical factor for mobile and electronic banking or electronic commerce success. Trust significantly predicts the customers' intention to use or adopt technology, especially that which is sensitive as involving money transfers. The purpose of this study is to understand the factors that enable users gain trust in the technology which lead to the rapid adoption of the technology. This thesis examines the rise of mobile and electronic banking, since the invention of computers and mobile phone technology, especially in developing countries. The thesis also study's the advantages and disadvantages of this technology, by specifically focusing on the importance of the technology and the impact it has had on various industries, firms, businesses and peoples' lives. It also focuses on the challenges that face customers when using mobile and electronic banking. The methodology used is a review of literature written on mobile and electronic banking and trust. The findings of this study indicate that the outstanding factors that influence prospective users to trust the technology and adopt it are Security, Structural assurances, Ease of use, Quality, Personal traits and other relative benefits. These findings are also evident in the case study of M-Pesa system usage. This study can be used to expand the knowledge of mobile and electronic banking adoption by customers and mobile banking in Kenya via the M-Pesa system. It may also be used by scholars to do further research and also by mobile phone operators to improve their services or expand their services in a way geared to economic empowerment to all sectors involved.