Impact of Digital Trust and Perceived Security on Online Banking Usage Behavior in Vietnam: Mediating Role of Perceived Risk and Moderating Role of Digital Financial Literacy

Authors

  • Trinh Thi Bich Ngoc Thu Dau Mot University, Vietnam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59653/jbmed.v4i02.2327

Keywords:

Trust, perceived organization support, Risk Management, Digital skills, Online Customer Rating, PLS-SEM, Vietnam

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of digital trust (DT) and perceived security (PS) on online banking usage behavior in Vietnam, incorporating perceived risk (PR) as a mediator and digital financial literacy (DFL) as a moderator. Drawing on an extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) integrated with Commitment–Trust Theory, Perceived Risk Theory, and Protection Motivation Theory, a research model with eight hypotheses was developed and empirically tested. Data were collected from 385 online banking users in Ho Chi Minh City and surrounding provinces via a structured questionnaire. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) using SmartPLS 4 was employed for data analysis. The measurement model demonstrated satisfactory reliability and validity, with all constructs exceeding established thresholds for Cronbach’s alpha (≥ 0.70), composite reliability (≥ 0.70), and average variance extracted (≥ 0.50). The structural model results revealed that both DT (β = 0.278, p < 0.001) and PS (β = 0.231, p < 0.001) significantly and positively influenced intention to use (IU), while both constructs significantly reduced PR. PR exhibited a significant negative effect on IU (β = −0.189, p < 0.001), and mediation analysis confirmed that PR partially mediated both the DT–IU and PS–IU relationships. Furthermore, DFL significantly moderated the PR–IU link (β = 0.118, p = 0.013), weakening the negative effect of PR on IU for users with higher DFL. IU strongly predicted actual usage behavior (β = 0.637, p < 0.001). The model explained 51.8% of the variance in IU and 40.6% in actual behavior. These findings contribute to the digital banking literature by providing an integrated trust–security–risk framework with conditional boundary effects, and offer practical implications for Vietnamese commercial banks seeking to enhance digital service adoption through trust-building strategies and financial literacy programs.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-T

Al-Doghan, M. A., & Mirzaliev, S. (2024). Cybersecurity awareness and digital banking adoption: Exploring the moderating impact of digital literacy. International Journal of Economics and Financial Studies, 16(3), 34–58. https://doi.org/10.34109/ijefs.202416303

Almaiah, M. A., Al-Otaibi, S., Shishakly, R., Hassan, L., Lutfi, A., Alrawad, M., Qatawneh, M., & Alghanam, O. A. (2023). Investigating the role of perceived risk, perceived security and perceived trust on smart m-banking application using SEM. Sustainability, 15(13), 9908. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15139908

Alrawad, M., Lutfi, A., Alyatama, S., Al Khattab, A., Alsoboa, S. S., Almaiah, M. A., ... & Ahmed, N. A. (2023). Examining the influence of trust and perceived risk on customers’ intention to use NFC mobile payment system. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 9(3), 100114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joitmc.2023.100114

Amnas, M. B., Selvam, M., & Parayitam, S. (2024). FinTech and financial inclusion: Exploring the mediating role of digital financial literacy and the moderating influence of perceived regulatory support. Journal of Risk and Financial Management, 17(3), 108. https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm17030108

Bauer, R. A. (1960). Consumer behavior as risk taking. In R. S. Hancock (Ed.), Proceedings of the 43rd National Conference of the American Marketing Association (pp. 389–398). American Marketing Association.

Brislin, R. W. (1970). Back-translation for cross-cultural research. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 1(3), 185–216. https://doi.org/10.1177/135910457000100301

Chellappa, R. K., & Pavlou, P. A. (2002). Perceived information security, financial liability and consumer trust in electronic commerce transactions. Logistics Information Management, 15(5/6), 358–368. https://doi.org/10.1108/09576050210447046

Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Davis, F. D. (1989). Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology. MIS Quarterly, 13(3), 319–340. https://doi.org/10.2307/249008

Featherman, M. S., & Pavlou, P. A. (2003). Predicting e-services adoption: A perceived risk facets perspective. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 59(4), 451–474. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1071-5819(03)00111-3

Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39–50. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224378101800104

Gefen, D., Karahanna, E., & Straub, D. W. (2003). Trust and TAM in online shopping: An integrated model. MIS Quarterly, 27(1), 51–90. https://doi.org/10.2307/30036519

Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2022). A primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) (3rd ed.). Sage.

Hair, J. F., Risher, J. J., Sarstedt, M., & Ringle, C. M. (2019). When to use and how to report the results of PLS-SEM. European Business Review, 31(1), 2–24. https://doi.org/10.1108/EBR-11-2018-0203

Henseler, J., & Chin, W. W. (2010). A comparison of approaches for the analysis of interaction effects between latent variables using partial least squares path modeling. Structural Equation Modeling, 17(1), 82–109. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705510903439003

Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2015). A new criterion for assessing discriminant validity in variance-based structural equation modeling. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 43(1), 115–135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-014-0403-8

Henseler, J., Hubona, G., & Ray, P. A. (2016). Using PLS path modeling in new technology research: Updated guidelines. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 116(1), 2–20. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMDS-09-2015-0382

InCorp Asia. (2025). Digital banking in Vietnam: Mobile banking transformation. Retrieved from https://vietnam.incorp.asia/digital-banking-in-vietnam/

International Monetary Fund. (2024). Global Financial Stability Report: The last mile: Financial vulnerabilities and risks. IMF.

Jafri, J. A., Amin, S. I. M., Rahman, A. M. A., & Nor, S. M. (2024). A systematic literature review of the role of trust and security on Fintech adoption in banking. Heliyon, 10(1), e22–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22035

Kim, D. J., Ferrin, D. L., & Rao, H. R. (2008). A trust-based consumer decision-making model in electronic commerce: The role of trust, perceived risk, and their antecedents. Decision Support Systems, 44(2), 544–564. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dss.2007.07.001

Kock, N. (2015). Common method bias in PLS-SEM: A full collinearity assessment approach. International Journal of e-Collaboration, 11(4), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.4018/ijec.2015100101

Lusardi, A., & Mitchell, O. S. (2014). The economic importance of financial literacy: Theory and evidence. Journal of Economic Literature, 52(1), 5–44. https://doi.org/10.1257/jel.52.1.5

Morgan, R. M., & Hunt, S. D. (1994). The commitment-trust theory of relationship marketing. Journal of Marketing, 58(3), 20–38. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224299405800302

Nguyen, G. D., & Dao, T. H. T. (2024). Factors influencing continuance intention to use mobile banking: An extended expectation-confirmation model with moderating role of trust. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 11(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-02734-1

Nguyen, H. T. M., Le, T. A., & Nguyen, T. H. (2023). The role of perceived security and social influence on the adoption of digital banking in Vietnam. Journal of Marketing and Consumer Research, 7(2), 136–153.

Podsakoff, P. M., MacKenzie, S. B., Lee, J. Y., & Podsakoff, N. P. (2003). Common method biases in behavioral research: A critical review of the literature and recommended remedies. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(5), 879–903. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.88.5.879

Preacher, K. J., & Hayes, A. F. (2008). Asymptotic and resampling strategies for assessing and comparing indirect effects in multiple mediator models. Behavior Research Methods, 40(3), 879–891. https://doi.org/10.3758/BRM.40.3.879

Ringle, C. M., Wende, S., & Becker, J.-M. (2022). SmartPLS 4. Boenningstedt: SmartPLS. Retrieved from https://www.smartpls.com

Rogers, R. W. (1975). A protection motivation theory of fear appeals and attitude change. Journal of Psychology, 91(1), 93–114. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223980.1975.9915803

Sarkar, S., Chauhan, S., & Khare, A. (2025). Between firewalls and feelings: Modelling trust and commitment in digital banking platforms. Journal of Cybersecurity and Privacy, 5(4), 89. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcp5040089

State Bank of Vietnam. (2024). Payment system development report 2024. SBV.

Venkatesh, V., & Davis, F. D. (2000). A theoretical extension of the technology acceptance model: Four longitudinal field studies. Management Science, 46(2), 186–204. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.46.2.186.11926

Venkatesh, V., Morris, M. G., Davis, G. B., & Davis, F. D. (2003). User acceptance of information technology: Toward a unified view. MIS Quarterly, 27(3), 425–478. https://doi.org/10.2307/30036540

Venkatesh, V., Thong, J. Y., & Xu, X. (2012). Consumer acceptance and use of information technology: Extending the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology. MIS Quarterly, 36(1), 157–178. https://doi.org/10.2307/41410412

WJARR. (2025). Trust in digital banking: A thematic review of drivers, barriers. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 26(2), 4141–4147.

World Bank. (2025). Global Findex Database 2025. World Bank Group.

Zhao, X., Lynch, J. G., & Chen, Q. (2010). Reconsidering Baron and Kenny: Myths and truths about mediation analysis. Journal of Consumer Research, 37(2), 197–206. https://doi.org/10.1086/651257

Downloads

Published

2026-05-27

How to Cite

Ngoc, T. T. B. (2026). Impact of Digital Trust and Perceived Security on Online Banking Usage Behavior in Vietnam: Mediating Role of Perceived Risk and Moderating Role of Digital Financial Literacy. Journal of Business Management and Economic Development, 4(02), 683–701. https://doi.org/10.59653/jbmed.v4i02.2327