EFFECT OF PHISHING ON ELECTRONIC BANKING ADOPTION AMONG ACADEMIC STAFF: ROLE OF CYBER SECURITY

Abstract

The electronic banking system is rapidly evolving in both developed and developing countries.
However, its adoption has become increasingly vulnerable to sophisticated cyber threats,
particularly phishing. This study examines the moderating role of cyber security in the relationship
between phishing and electronic banking adoption among academic staff in the Faculty of
Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. A survey research design was employed to collect
data from 165 respondents, and the analysis was conducted using Partial Least Squares Structural
Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS Version 4. The results indicate that phishing has a
significant negative effect on electronic banking adoption (β = -0.652, p < 0.001), confirming that
phishing undermines users' confidence in adopting electronic banking systems. Furthermore, cyber
security significantly moderates this relationship (interaction β = 0.204, p < 0.001), suggesting
that enhanced cyber security measures can mitigate the adverse effects of phishing and promote
greater adoption of electronic banking. Based on these findings, the study recommends that
financial institutions should implement regular awareness campaigns targeted at academic staff to
improve their alertness to phishing techniques and to continuously educate them on secure online
banking practices.