Age, Digital Financial Literacy and Saving Behavior among Households in West Bandung: A Microdata Study

Authors

  • Valentine Siagian Universitas Advent Indonesia
  • Andrew Fernando Pakpahan Universitas Advent Indonesia
  • Judith Tagal Gallena Sinaga Universitas Advent Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31154/isc12.v12i5.91.1157-1174

Keywords:

digital financial literacy, saving behavior, household finance, age and technology adoption, financial inclusion

Abstract

This study examines the influence of age and digital financial literacy on saving behavior among households in West Bandung, Indonesia. As financial technology becomes increasingly integrated into everyday life, understanding how different age groups engage with digital financial tools is essential for promoting inclusive financial practices. The study aims to explore the direct and indirect effects of age on saving behavior, with digital financial literacy as a potential mediating factor. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire distributed during a women’s ministry meeting, targeting female household representatives. Respondents could choose between an online Google Form or paper-based format, accommodating a wide age range. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze the data and test the proposed relationships. Results show that digital financial literacy has a strong positive effect on saving behavior (β = 0.629), while age has a positive direct effect on saving behavior (β = 0.274) and a marginal negative effect on digital financial literacy (β = -0.197). The model explains 40.2% of the variance in saving behavior, suggesting a meaningful interaction between age, financial knowledge, and saving practices. The findings highlight the dual role of age: as a contributor to disciplined saving and as a barrier to digital tool adoption. This underscores the need for age-sensitive financial literacy programs that enhance digital confidence without neglecting traditional saving values. The study offers valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners seeking to improve financial inclusion in semi-urban communities.

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

Alam, M. M., & Islam, M. A. (2022). Fintech and behavioral nudges: Bridging the gap in financial decision-making. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, 35, 100703. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbef.2022.100703

Aslam, M., & Niaz, M. S. (2020). The role of digital financial literacy in financial inclusion in Pakistan. Journal of Finance and Economics Research, 5(1), 25–42. https://doi.org/10.20547/jfer2005103

Bhat, A., Pathak, A. A., & Kumar, R. (2024). Digital financial literacy and youth money behavior in India. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 48(2), 233–245. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcs.12910

Bongomin, G. O. C., Ntayi, J. M., Munene, J. C., & Nabeta, I. N. (2020). Digital financial services and financial inclusion in developing countries: A conceptual framework. Journal of African Business, 21(3), 327–345. https://doi.org/10.1080/15228916.2019.1582296

Brown, M., Kapteyn, A., & Mitchell, O. S. (2021). Framing and saving: A field experiment on raising retirement savings. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 190, 196–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2021.07.007

Choung, S. Y., Kim, H. H., & Park, J. (2023). Digital financial literacy and adult financial well-being in South Korea. Asian Economic Journal, 37(1), 76–94. https://doi.org/10.1111/asej.12247

Christensen, J., Hershfield, H. E., & Milkman, K. L. (2024). Future self-continuity and saving behavior: Evidence from field experiments. Psychological Science, 35(1), 112–124. https://doi.org/10.1177/09567976231196231

Cruz, S. A., Gómez-González, C. A., & Rodríguez-Castelán, C. (2024). The role of religious and cultural values in household saving decisions. World Development, 174, 106336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2023.106336

Dinas Kominfo Kabupaten Bandung Barat. (2022). Laporan survei akses digital rumah tangga. Pemerintah Kabupaten Bandung Barat.

Ghosh, S., & Chaudhury, S. (2022). Gender and age dynamics of formal and informal saving in India. International Review of Applied Economics, 36(3), 452–471. https://doi.org/10.1080/02692171.2021.1983380

Giannelis, N., Haliassos, M., & Karapanagiotis, P. (2023). Genetic influences on financial distress: Saving behavior and income shocks. Review of Finance, 27(4), 945–972. https://doi.org/10.1093/rof/rfac041

Gilenko, E., & Chernova, M. (2021). Financial literacy and saving behavior in children: The role of financial education. Children and Youth Services Review, 121, 105889. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105889

Gomber, P., Koch, J. A., & Siering, M. (2018). Digital finance and fintech: Current research and future research directions. Journal of Business Economics, 87(5), 537–580. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11573-017-0852-x

Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C., & Sarstedt, M. (2021). A primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) (3rd ed.). Sage Publications.

Hargittai, E., Piper, A. M., & Morris, M. R. (2019). From internet access to internet skills: Digital inequality among older adults. Universal Access in the Information Society, 18, 881–890. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-018-0617-5

Hong, H., Jiang, W., & Yu, J. (2024). Survival values and saving behavior: Evidence from household-level data. Journal of Economic Psychology, 96, 102612. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2023.102612

Kass-Hanna, J., Cunha, M. P., & Omarini, A. (2021). A systematic literature review on digital financial inclusion. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 162, 120400. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2020.120400

Klapper, L., Lusardi, A., & van Oudheusden, P. (2015). Financial literacy around the world: Insights from the Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services Global Financial Literacy Survey. World Bank.

Laukkanen, T. (2016). Consumer adoption versus rejection decisions in seemingly similar service innovations: The case of the internet and mobile banking. Journal of Business Research, 69(7), 2432–2439. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2016.01.013

Lusardi, A., & Mitchell, O. S. (2011). Financial literacy and planning: Implications for retirement wellbeing. National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper No. 17078. https://doi.org/10.3386/w17078

Lusardi, A., & Mitchell, O. S. (2011). Financial literacy around the world: An overview. Journal of Pension Economics and Finance, 10(4), 497–508. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1474747211000448

Mbiti, I., & Weil, D. N. (2021). Mobile banking: The impact of M-Pesa in Kenya. NBER Working Paper No. 17129. https://doi.org/10.3386/w17129

Modigliani, F., & Brumberg, R. (1954). Utility analysis and the consumption function: An interpretation of cross-section data. In K. Kurihara (Ed.), Post-Keynesian Economics (pp. 388–436). Rutgers University Press.

Modigliani, F., & Brumberg, R. (1954). Utility analysis and the consumption function: An

Nguyen, M. H., Hargittai, E., & Marler, W. (2020). Digital inequality in communication during a time of physical distancing: The case of COVID-19. Social Media + Society, 6(3), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1177/2056305120948255

Nguyen, T. T., & Tan, G. (2022). Digital finance adoption and saving behavior among millennials in Vietnam. Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business, 9(4), 83–92. https://doi.org/10.13106/jafeb.2022.vol9.no4.0083

Nugroho, Y., & Fitriana, R. (2021). Financial literacy and digital banking in rural Indonesia. Indonesian Journal of Economics and Finance, 4(2), 73–88.

OECD. (2020). OECD/INFE 2020 international survey of adult financial literacy. OECD Publishing.

Paule-Paludkiewicz, H., Lueg, K., & Beck, T. (2020). The role of culture in household saving behavior: Evidence from immigrants. Economics Letters, 193, 109268. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econlet.2020.109268

Pratama, Y., Rahmawati, A., & Nugroho, Y. (2020). Financial literacy and savings behavior in Indonesia: A provincial perspective. Journal of Economics and Policy, 13(3), 115–130. https://doi.org/10.22219/jep.v13i3.12473

Sarstedt, M., Diamantopoulos, A., Salzberger, T., & Baumgartner, H. (2016). Selecting single items to measure reflective constructs in organizational research. Organizational Research Methods, 19(4), 1–30. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094428115624966

Srisawatsakul, T., & Srisawatsakul, P. (2023). The impact of mobile banking usage on saving frequency in Thailand. Asian Journal of Economic Modelling, 11(2), 101–115. https://doi.org/10.18488/ajem.v11i2.3161

Trzcińska, A., Czerwonka, M., & Niewiadomski, P. (2022). Time perspective and saving behavior in children. Journal of Economic Psychology, 92, 102522. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2022.102522

van Deursen, A. J., & Helsper, E. J. (2015). The third-level digital divide: Who benefits most from being online? Communication and Information Technologies Annual, 10, 29–52. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2050-206020150000010002

Wang, L., Liang, X., & Sun, Y. (2022). Anthropomorphism of money and its effects on saving: Evidence from experimental studies. Journal of Consumer Research, 49(2), 293–311. https://doi.org/10.1093/jcr/ucac018

Wulandari, F., & Indrastuti, A. (2023). Fintech usage and literacy in rural Indonesia: Evidence from East Java. Journal of Financial Inclusion Studies, 6(1), 45–60.

Xie, C., & Chen, Y. (2024). Digital financial literacy and rural entrepreneurship in China: A moderating role of risk attitude. China Economic Review, 80, 102112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chieco.2024.102112

Downloads

Published

2026-02-20

How to Cite

Siagian, V., Pakpahan, A. F., & Sinaga, J. T. G. (2026). Age, Digital Financial Literacy and Saving Behavior among Households in West Bandung: A Microdata Study. 12th International Scholars Conference 2025, 12(5), 1157–1174. https://doi.org/10.31154/isc12.v12i5.91.1157-1174