Kushnir Svitlana, Doctor of Economics, Professor, Professor of the Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance, Zaporizhzhia National University, Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine

ORCID: 0000-0002-1410-1887
e-mail: Svetlanaak@ukr.net

Batrakova Tetiana, PhD (Economics), Associate Professor, Professor of the Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance, Zaporizhzhia National University, Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine

ORCID: 0000-0002-5710-9416
e-mail: tanyabat16@gmail.com

Financial Inclusion of Rural Areas through Digitalization

Abstract. Introduction. The article considers the issue of using modern digital technologies for access to banking services by residents of remote rural areas on an equal basis with city residents. A steady trend towards optimizing the operating costs of banking institutions has been identified, which directly results in a massive reduction in the network of physical offices in the regions. It has been established that in today’s conditions, digitalization acts not just as a technological trend, but as a fundamental tool for ensuring social and financial justice. 

Purpose. The advantages of Internet banking and the “Diya” service for remote services have been described. The functional potential of Internet banking in the system of inclusion of rural areas has been analyzed. A comparative characteristic of traditional and digital models of banking services in rural areas has been conducted. The difference in the operating cost of traditional and digital services has been determined. The importance of security of operations has been established, but without excessive complication, given the large contingent of users – the elderly. The main advantages of digitalization have been analyzed, including saving client resources, transparency and security of operations, and minimization of errors. 

Results. The difficulties that hinder digitalization in the village were separately investigated: technical barriers – poor internet, unstable communication, lack of 4G coverage in remote villages, as well as fear of fraudsters and lack of smartphone skills among the older generation. 

Conclusions. The main barriers to digital financial inclusion in villages were identified, as well as ways to overcome them, since the development of digital services is not just a convenience, but a necessary condition for the development of rural communities, obtaining financial support for small and medium-sized businesses.

Keywords: financial inclusion, banking sector digitalization, rural areas, Internet banking, neobanks, digital literacy, financial services, remote verification, agricultural sector, financial gap, banking network, electronic payments

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