The purpose of the present study is to identify the determinants of continuance intentions to use FinTech peer-to-peer (P2P) payment apps in India. A cross-sectional survey of 463 FinTech users was carried out during the pandemic with the help of a digital questionnaire. The study has empirically tested an extended expectancy confirmation model and theory of acceptance to examine the determinants of continuance intentions to use FinTech P2P payment apps. We demonstrate that confirmation of prior expectations and post-adoption perceived usefulness determine continuance intention to use FinTech payment services. Cognitive acceptance (trust) and normative acceptance (social influence) not only determine behavioural acceptance (willingness to co-create) but also influences continuance intentions. Confirmation of initial expectations during service use determines satisfaction and post-purchase perceived usefulness. The continuous use of FinTech P2P services can be ensured by fulfilling users' post-purchase expected benefits, fostering trust, and social influence. These can be achieved by gearing up internal resources to provide customized experiences that meet customers' expectations and facilitate fruitful interactions. Only if the mobile experience is accessible and meets the expectations of customers, they would appreciate its performance and value in the offerings leading to extensive use of FinTech P2P services. The present paper is based on extended ECM and the theory of acceptance that aim to explain continuance intention to use FinTech P2P payments. The study findings add to the limited body of research in the context of FinTech P2P payments.

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in understanding the Massive open online courses (MOOCs) due to its gaining popularity. Even though the number of online platforms and programs has grown during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is still a high rate of dropout and non-completion. In this work, the expectation-confirmation model is combined with MOOC features such as perceived openness, perceived reputation, and other factors i.e., perceived enjoyment, and perceived computer self-efficacy to investigate the learner’s continued intention to use MOOC. A survey was undertaken and the data was collected from 383 students pursuing their degrees (undergraduate and post-graduate) in Karnataka state, India. The collected data were analyzed with structural equation modelling in Smart PLS 3. The study confirms a significant influence of confirmation and perceived usefulness on satisfaction, and direct significant influence of perceived computer self-efficacy, satisfaction, and perceived usefulness on continuance intention. Also, the results demonstrated the significant influence of confirmation on perceived enjoyment and usefulness and the effect of computer self-efficacy on usefulness. The findings in this study indicate that the MOOC platforms should focus on confirming learner expectations and the usefulness of courses to ensure student satisfaction and continuance of courses.

Distress in online classrooms and problematic internet use are two issues that have caused student burnout and affect perceived learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the high pressure placed on students throughout COVID-19, it is critical to understand the influence of problematic internet use (PIU), psychological stress, academic burnout, and resilience on perceived learning (PL). A cross-sectional analytical study was chosen to collect data from 350 learners pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate business/management degrees in Karnataka, India. The data were analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) and Smart PLS 3. The present study reports a non-significant negative total effect of stress on PL, while there was a significant positive direct effect but a significant indirect negative effect of multiple mediators, namely PIU, burnout, and resilience. In the relationship between stress and PL, burnout has full competitive mediation, and the suppressive effect of burnout and resilience wipes out the beneficial benefit of stress on PL, resulting in reduced PL. As a societal problem, a change in educational policy and prevention strategies for students and organizations (reducing the number of courses, number of exams, and handling parental expectations) would be effective. Emotional intelligence to improve resilience, which assists students in sailing through a current challenging situation and using IT for reducing negative and unexpected emotional outbursts should be encouraged.

Mobile banking has revolutionised the way banks create value for customers by providing low-cost self-service alternatives without temporal and spatial limitations. This paper aims to determine the factors that have a bearing on the adoption of mobile banking services by using a unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model. An empirical descriptive study was carried out in Udupi district of the state of Karnataka to collect data using judgement sampling procedure. The data were analysed using partial least square method of structural equation modelling. Performance expectancy and effort expectancy significantly influences the intention to adopt. Multi-group analysis by gender reveals that the effect of performance expectancy on adoption intention is considerably higher for male than female population. For widespread adoption of mobile banking, rural customers should perceive the process of banking transactions as convenient, easy-to-use and understand and publicise the usefulness of electronic medium over traditional medium through awareness campaigns.

Purpose: This study aims to review the published empirical research on relationship orientation in banking and insurance services. The objective of the study is to understand whether a strong customer–sales representative relationship contributes to sales effectiveness and to know the significance of relational behaviors in developing and maintaining long-term relationship.Design/methodology/approach: Through Boolean search, a systematic review with narrative synthesis was conducted. Relevant electronic bibliographic databases and reference lists of pertinent review articles were searched. Screening and eligibility of articles were based on participants, interventions, comparisons, outcomes (PICO) model and PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews) guidelines.Findings: A total of 22 papers were finalized for the study, and results reveal that customer orientation behavior and adaptive selling behavior of sales representatives improve relationship quality, culminating in higher customer satisfaction, enhanced loyalty and escalated commitment, whereas selling orientation diminishes the relationship quality. The attributes of sales person especially contact intensity, contact frequency and client knowledge augment sales effectiveness and longstanding relationship with the customers.Practical implications: This paper would provide valuable insights for financial sales representatives, academicians and practitioners of relationship marketing in the area of banking and insurance services. Personalization and customizations are important aspects of the provision of social benefits that strengthen competitive advantage.Originality/value: Although the relevance of relationship marketing has been acknowledged, the conceptual base of relationship orientation in banking and insurance services has received only limited attention.

Purpose: The biggest challenge in the Indian life insurance industry is mis-selling and unfair business practices. The purpose of this paper is to explore the effect of relational selling behaviour on investor decision making in life insurance market in India. This study also aims to elucidate the mediating role of trust in predicting the purchase of life insurance policies by investors. Design/methodology/approach: A cross-sectional survey was carried out to collect quantitative data using a validated structured questionnaire. A total of 813 policyholders of life insurance companies operating in Karnataka, South India, were chosen. The data were analysed using the partial least square method of structural equation modeling. Findings: The process of investors’ life insurance buying decision is directly influenced by interaction intensity, co-operative intentions of agents, sharing of overt and covert policy information, and indirectly through the partial mediation of trust. Also, trust fully mediates the effect of agent disclosure and personal rapport on decision making by investors. The importance‒performance map analysis highlights the pivotal role of overt policy information in investors’ decision making. Practical implications: The financial mis-selling in India can be curtailed significantly if the insurance companies insist on responsible and relational selling by their sales agents. The companies would also strategically gain by investing in trust-building programs that enhance quality interactions and honest disclosure of overt and covert policy information, unpretentious intention to co-operate in the policy selection, and emphasize emotional connection and personal rapport with customers. These genuine actions and behavioural manifestations would certainly facilitate appropriate decision making by the investors. Originality/value: There is a paucity of research in India which explicates the role of relational selling behaviour in insurers’ decision making. As such, this article expands the scope of relational marketing research in insurance by assessing the relational determinants of investor decisions as well as the role of trust as the mediator in influencing insurance decision making.