Digital payment services in Poland as assistive technology and empowering tool for consumers with disabilities

Abstract

The retail payments market is developing, and the implementation of digital payments has been one of the trends in consumer finance worldwide. This is the first study to jointly examine the perception of digital payment methods and financial services’ role, for consumers with and without disabilities. First, based on a nationwide survey on Internet users in Poland, the authors compared the popularity of selected financial services among consumers, then the perception of characteristics of payment methods. The results revealed that consumers with disabilities use a wide range of payment services, and they are included in digital finance. Moreover, contactless payment cards are used by consumers with disabilities even more often than by consumers on average. The results suggest that the control over finances make digital payments an important empowering tool for consumers with disabilities. Finally, the paper provides recommendations for the banking sector, on strategies for offering digital financial services.