What Determines Consumer Attitude toward Green Credit Card Services? A Moderated Mediation Approach

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to examine the factors affecting consumer attitude within the context of green credit card services. Specifically, this research examines (1) the effect of individual characteristics (i.e., green knowledge, innovativeness) on attitude toward green credit card services; and (2) the mediating role of self-accountability and the moderating role of regulatory focus in the relationships. With a sample of 1000 green credit/debit card users, structural equation modelling and moderated mediation analyses were implemented to investigate the relationships involving green knowledge, innovativeness, self-accountability, regulatory focus, and attitude. The results indicate that (1) while the effect of green knowledge on attitude is not significant, innovativeness has a positive impact on attitude; (2) self-accountability mediates the relationship between (a) green knowledge and (b) innovativeness and attitude; and (3) regulatory focus moderates the relationship between self-accountability and attitude, such that the positive relationship is stronger for consumers with a prevention (vs. promotion) focus. Furthermore, moderated mediation was observed; that is, the mediation effects of self-accountability on the relationship between (a) green knowledge and (b) innovativeness and attitude are stronger for prevention- (vs. promotion-) focused consumers. The findings provide an important insight into how credit card companies approaching ESG issues can enhance their consumers’ attitude toward green credit card services.