Profiling Islamic Banking Customers: Does Product Awareness Matter?

Abstract

Purpose

Islamic banking contributes significantly to the total assets of Malaysian banking sector. Yet, many argue that Islamic banking in Malaysia does not receive satisfactory support and participation from the public mainly due to poor awareness of its products and services and misconception about the Islamic banking system. It is timely to study consumers’ awareness of Islamic banking in the hopes of providing useful strategies for and assistance with marketing plans. This study is to explore consumer awareness towards Islamic banking products and services across a diverse set of demographic variables.

Methodology/approach

A quantitative approach was used in this study. A total of 1,000 questionnaires were distributed via convenience and snowballing sampling method to bank customers in a public university in Malaysia, and 817 responses from the survey were used for the analysis. Descriptive and non-parametric statistics were employed to answer objectives of this study.

Findings

The findings of this study are anticipated to provide a holistic and comprehensive marketing insight to improve and strengthen Islamic banking in Malaysia.

Originality/value

This study examines the role of demographics such age, gender, race/religion, education level, occupation and income level in trying to understand the issues of Islamic banks’ product awareness. It is well accepted that the consumer’s attitude or behaviour should be studied among others through understanding customers’ demographics.

Citation

Che-Ha, N., Hamzah, Z.L., Abd Sukor, M.E., Mohd Said, S. and Veeriah, K. (2016), "Profiling Islamic Banking Customers: Does Product Awareness Matter?", Mutum, D.S., Butt, M.M. and Rashid, M. (Ed.) Advances in Islamic Finance, Marketing, and Management, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 223-243. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-78635-899-820161012