Bridging FinTech Adoption to Sustainable Financial Behavior: The Mediating Roles of Financial Literacy and Inclusion in Indonesia

Abstract

This study investigates the indirect relationship between FinTech adoption and sustainable financial behavior through the mediating roles of financial literacy and financial inclusion in the Indonesian context. While the proliferation of FinTech services is often seen as a catalyst for financial transformation, evidence remains limited regarding its behavioral impact, particularly in emerging markets. Using a quantitative explanatory design and data from 315 active FinTech users across diverse regions in Indonesia, this study applies Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to examine both direct and mediated effects. The results show that FinTech adoption significantly influences financial literacy and financial inclusion, but does not directly affect sustainable financial behavior. Instead, its influence is fully mediated by the users’ financial knowledge and access to financial services. These findings underscore the critical importance of capability and access in realizing the behavioral benefits of digital financial tools. The study offers theoretical contributions by extending the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) within a FinTech context and provides practical implications for inclusive financial policy and literacy-driven innovation strategies.