Trust building in mobile money and its outcomes

Purpose To examine the key factors that can engender initial trust in mobile money and to also determine whether initial trust can contribute to the perceived value of mobile money, use and recommendation intentions. More specifically, this paper, based on initial trust building model, aims to identify the institutional, cognitive and socially related factors enhancing initial trust in mobile money and its relationship with perceived value, use and recommendation intentions. Design/methodology/approach A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 781 research participants. Variance-based structural equation modelling was used to examine the proposed research model. Findings This research shows the importance of the institutional factor of structural assurance, in conjunction with perceived firm reputation and communicability, in engendering initial trust in mobile money and, in turn, enhancing perceived value, use and recommendation intentions. The research further confirms the mediating influence of perceived value in the relationships between initial trust, use and recommendation intentions. Originality/value The originality of this work lies in the development and empirical confirmation of the research model and which together contributes to an increase understanding of initial trust building in mobile money acceptance. Value-wise, this work has the potential to inform managerial and public policy interventions by helping mobile money operators and policymakers’ rollout essential and even sophisticated financial services like borrowing using the mobile phone for the financially under-served in developing and trust-deficit settings.