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This study aims to analyze both technical efficiency and allocative efficiency per input within the banking sector, focusing on the interplay among Islamic banks, conventional banks and conventional banks offering Islamic Banking Services (CBIBS). It also investigates the impact of competition on these efficiencies.

Using data from 37 Islamic banks, 38 CBIBS and 126 conventional banks across 14 countries in the MENA region and Southeast Asia over the period 2002–2022, the authors applied a stochastic frontier production model with first-order conditions, a two-step system generalized method of moments estimator and the Tobit model for robustness checks.

The findings indicate that Islamic banks demonstrate the highest technical efficiency, whereas CBIBS exhibit the lowest. Despite this, Islamic banks encounter significant challenges in allocative inefficiency, particularly in managing financial capital, which adversely affects their cost efficiency. Interestingly, competition enhances the allocative efficiency of financial capital in conventional banks and CBIBS but diminishes it in Islamic banks. Furthermore, control variables show varied impacts on efficiencies across different banking categories.

These findings emphasize the need for collaboration between regulators and researchers to develop an efficiency measurement method that integrates financial, ethical and social aspects. It also highlights the importance of aligning banking with ethical financing practices and innovating products that optimize resource allocation, thereby enhancing both financial and ethical performance.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to analyze the allocative efficiency per input for the three categories of banks: Islamic, conventional and CBIBS, while highlighting the variety of competition effects.

Introduction: The bank plays a significant role in financial intermediation and serves as market-makers and agents. The emergence of new financial technology, commonly known as “FinTech”, is anticipated to revolutionize these industries. FinTech encompasses technological advancements in the financial sector to enhance consumer satisfaction, streamline operational procedures, create novel products, and foster greater competition.

Purpose: The primary aim is to discuss the banking industry’s current and potential future state with the emergence of financial technology. The specific objective is to explore the emergence of new-age technologies in the banking industry and the challenges faced in their implementation.

Methodology: A qualitative method is employed to analyze the FinTech landscape. Researchers conducted an extensive literature review and analyzed recent news articles to explore the banking industry’s digital transformation through FinTech. The literature review encompassed academic journals, industry reports, and relevant books to provide a theoretical framework and historical context to capture current developments, real-world applications, and emerging trends.

Findings: The evolution and impact of financial technology on the global economic landscape have been explored. It highlights how FinTech innovations, such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, and mobile payments, have revolutionized traditional banking, enhancing efficiency, accessibility, and security. It discusses regulatory challenges and the need for a balanced approach to foster innovation while ensuring consumer protection. The findings underscore FinTech’s potential to drive economic growth and the importance of continuous adaptation to evolving technological trends.

This research used the technology acceptance model (TAM) to explore the effect of customer relationship management, financial literacy and social influence on users’ intentions to adopt online banking. Furthermore, it explores the moderating role of personal innovativeness in technology in this context.

The measuring scale in this study was refined iteratively through talks with domain experts. A digital survey was used to gather data from 524 respondents, and PLS-SEM was used for analysis.

The findings reveal that customer relationship management and financial literacy significantly impact perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use but not the intention to adopt online banking. Perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use significantly influence intention, whereas personal innovativeness and social influence do not. Additionally, the moderation effects of personal innovativeness between customer relationship management, financial literacy, social influence and intention are insignificant.

This innovative study introduces personal innovativeness in technology as a moderator in the perspective of online banking adoption, setting new standards in the field. This important point has not been covered in previous studies.

This study aims to explore the impact of financial technology (fintech) and behavioral intention on financial inclusion, specifically focusing on the role of digital marketing as a mediator.

Using a quantitative research design, this study collected data from 638 respondents in the province of Punjab, Pakistan to investigate the relationship between variables.

The results indicate that both behavioral intention and fintech have a positive and favorable effect on financial inclusion. Furthermore, the study reveals that digital marketing acts as a mediating factor between financial inclusion and both behavioral intention and fintech. These findings underscore the significance of using effective digital marketing strategies to facilitate financial inclusion through fintech platforms. Policymakers should prioritize the adoption of fintech innovations and supportive regulatory frameworks while implementing comprehensive digital marketing strategies to promote financial inclusion.

This research contributes to the existing body of literature by presenting empirical evidence that highlights the interconnectedness of fintech, behavioral intention, digital marketing and financial inclusion. By harnessing the potential of fintech and digital marketing, financial institutions can bridge the gap between underserved populations and formal financial services, thereby promoting economic growth and reducing inequality.

Many scholars have primarily disregarded employee motivation in the context of Western and Islamic ideas. To better understand employee motivation, this paper aims to explore a novel approach of fusing McClelland’s needs theory (i.e. achievement, power and affiliation) with Maqasid Shariah.

This study adopts a theoretical research design. There will be a thorough literature study of McClelland’s theory, Maqasid Shariah, and employee motivation. Qualitative content analysis is used to examine and compile pertinent ideas. To give a thorough framework for comprehending employee motivation from both Western and Islamic ethical viewpoints, McClelland’s theory and Maqasid Shariah are integrated.

This paper has conceptualized the integration of Maqasid Shariah’s five requirements with McClelland’s need theory. It is suggested that Maqasid Shariah and McClelland’s need theory be combined to understand employee motivation. For employees, the integration of McClelland’s need theory and Maqasid Shariah entails developing a work environment that attends to their many needs, is consistent with Islamic principles, encourages justice and equity, supports both professional and personal development and promotes social responsibility. By combining McClelland’s need theory and Maqasid Shariah, 15 propositions are developed to explain employee motivation. The study offers a measurement index to explain employee motivation based on the two theories.

The integration of McClelland’s theory of need and Maqasid Shariah offers expected positive implications. By considering the cultural and religious context in Islamic societies, researchers can adopt a more sensitive approach to studying motivation. This blend provides a holistic understanding of motivation, incorporating individual needs and broader ethical dimensions. Studies may explore the impact on prosocial behavior, organizational values, leadership practices and employee well-being. Understanding the alignment between personal motives and ethical principles can benefit organizations in diverse workplaces, emphasizing long-term sustainability and fostering employee engagement and commitment.

The integration of McClelland’s theory and Maqasid Shariah shows the potential implications to increase employee motivation. This study contributes significantly to Maqasid Shariah theory in business research by guiding ethical decision-making aligned with Islamic values, fostering inclusive workplaces and offering strategies for boosting employee morale. It emphasizes ethical practices, legal compliance and community engagement, while also encouraging sustainable business models that consider societal well-being and the environment.

This paper provides its unique value by being among the first to integrate McClelland’s theory and Maqasid Shariah and providing an innovative approach in developing a new measurement index in the context of employee motivation.

The purpose of this study is to examine how users’ intention to adopt online banking is influenced by perceived trust (PT), awareness (AWE) and social influence (SI) and to assess whether customer relationship management (CRM) moderates the impact of these factors on adoption intentions.

Data were collected from 565 respondents in Pakistan using a stratified sampling technique. The analysis was conducted using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling with SmartPLS-4 to examine the proposed relationships.

This study’s findings reveal that PT, AWE and SI do not directly influence users’ intention to adopt online banking. Trust impacts intention through perceived ease of use, while AWE and SI affect intention via both perceived usefulness and ease of use. CRM negatively moderates SI but positively moderates the effects of PT and AWE on users’ intention.

This study explores the novel role of CRM as a moderator, offering fresh insights into how CRM enhances the impact of PT, AWE and SI on online banking adoption.

Under the integrated perspective of the Net Valence Framework (NVF) and Theory of Reasoned action (TRA), this research intends to examine the impact of drivers (perceived risks (PRs) and benefits) on FinTech adoption (FA) as well as on business sustainability (BS) of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Oman. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of drivers (perceived risks and benefits) on FinTech adoption (FA) and business sustainability (BS) of SMEs in Oman , under the integrated perspective of the Net Valence Framework (NVF) and Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA).

Primary data was collected from 402 owners and managers of SMEs in Muscat, Oman using a purposive sampling method. Structural Equation Modeling with Partial Least Squares was mainly applied to assess the PRs and perceived benefits (PBs) determining both FA and BS of SMEs.

The results indicate that PBs (economic, convenience, transaction efficiency) positively impact FA, while PRs (financial, legal, security, operational) act as deterrents toward FA. Both the benefits and risks significantly influence BS. FA itself fosters sustainability, and PBs directly enhance it through ease of use, cost reduction and knowledge acquisition. Conversely, PRs hinder sustainability due to concerns about skills gaps, security, social inclusion and environmental considerations.

The research forms a model capturing the pros and cons of FA of SMEs to provide stakeholders with ideas that would promote sustainability and drive fintech-based growth and innovation. For instance, by improving financial management efficiency, increasing market access and enhancing competitiveness, SMEs can adopt fintech solutions to support sustainable growth and achieve Sustainable Development Goals across the region’s economy.

The current research, through the lens of the NVF as well as TRA, explores the contribution of FA determined by PRs and benefits toward BS of SMEs in the context of Oman.

This study aims to examine the potential of Sharia status as ex ante information to signal the quality of an issuing firm by improving the decision-making process of potential investors when assessing initial public offerings (IPOs) in an environment where information asymmetry is pronounced. Potential investors face challenges in evaluating and determining the true value of IPO issues, which inherently influences their decision-making. Consequently, this results in pronounced price fluctuations in IPO shares, leading to higher underpricing.

This study uses a sample of 350 IPOs listed on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE) between 2004 and 2021 to examine the signaling role of Sharia-compliance status. A three-model approach is used to ensure that the study's objectives are met. The first model investigates the effect of Sharia status on underpricing to determine whether the main beneficiary of such a signal is the investor or the issuer. The second model examines the effect of Sharia status on investor demand to determine if such a signal influences prospective investors' investment decision-making processes. The third model inspects the effect of Sharia status on investor divergence of beliefs to measure the signal's ability to reduce information asymmetry within the Malaysian IPO market.

The Malaysian IPO market relies heavily on the fixed-price mechanism, which exacerbates high information asymmetry, affecting potential investors' behavior, asset price formation and return generation on the first day of listing. The study results indicate that Sharia status does not have any signaling role in the Malaysian IPO market. This is because investors in the Malaysian market are driven by ex ante information that helps unveil relevant information that leads to capital gains. Furthermore, most new issues in the Malaysian IPO market fall under Sharia status, diluting the relevance of such information for prospective investors in determining profitable investments.

The findings highlight the challenges faced by issuing firms in estimating market demand due to limited premarket insights and the difficulties prospective investors face in identifying the quality of issuing firms. Efforts to provide more information on investor demand can reduce uncertainty and facilitate more informed decision-making.

This research stands as one of the pioneering efforts to provide an empirical explanation of the potential signaling influence of Sharia status in an emerging IPO market.

The ever-evolving landscape of financial technology (Fintech) has revolutionised payment methods and raised questions about what drives user behaviour in adopting these innovative solutions. This study, using narrative transportation theory as an underpinning theory, aims to investigate into the dynamics of green user behaviour in adopting Fintech payments.

This study used a deductive approach, and with data obtained from 635 respondents through the purposive sampling technique, partial least squares structural equation modelling was employed to yield significant insights.

The study found a positive association between green brand positioning and product differentiation. However, it unexpectedly didn't impact user attitudes towards Fintech payments. Green brand image and perceived performance positively influenced product differentiation. Perceived product differentiation fully mediated the association between green brand positioning and user attitudes. The study introduced fear of missing out's (FOMO) moderating role, enriching eco-conscious marketing insights and user behaviour understanding.

This study reveals crucial implications for marketers, policymakers and user experience (UX) designers operating within the Fintech industry. It emphasises green brand positioning's impact on product differentiation, user attitudes and its mediating role. It advocates for sustainability integration, innovation, strategic messaging and user-centric improvements to optimise user perceptions and competitiveness in the evolving Fintech landscape. The study's cross-sectional design may limit the ability to establish causal relationships over time and overlook temporal changes in green Fintech adoption dynamics; thus, longitudinal studies are warranted to better understand the evolving nature of user attitudes and behaviours towards green Fintech payments.

This study adds novelty to the existing body of literature by introducing the dimension of innovation appeal to green brand positioning and employing narrative transportation theory in the Fintech realm. The findings also add novelty by highlighting the moderating impact of fear of missing out in predicting the association between green brand positioning and product differentiation in the realm of green Fintech and green use behaviour.

This paper aims to present a review and analysis of the literature on halal services over 25 years. The number of publications on halal services has increased over the years in the fields of business, management and economic research; however, the topic has been discussed less comprehensively in relation to bibliometric analysis.

This study was conducted using review and bibliometric analysis. In total, 346 articles were extracted using a modified Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses procedure, and 176 documents were eliminated because they were not within the scope of the Halal Services topic. Finally, 170 articles were analyzed using the Biblioshiny-Bibliometrix R package.

Research on halal services has grown steadily over the past 25 years. Most studies were conducted in Muslim countries; however, some non-Muslim countries, such as the United Kingdom and China, also contributed to the topic of halal services. Thematic analysis revealed that most halal services papers are categorized under the “Niche Theme” or the “Basic Theme.”

This study contributes by providing future researchers with knowledge and information on knowledge structures and state-of-the-art halal services. This study also provides insights into the development of novel ideas that may contribute to expanding the research on halal services worldwide.

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of halal services research using bibliometric analysis. Through this method, this study attempts to summarize the trends in halal service research over 25 years, which may suggest future research directions into halal services.