Modeling Digital Banking Adoption in Saudi Arabia: An Integrated C-TAM-TPB Framework Examining the Role of Perceived Security-Based Trust

This study creates and tests a model for digital banking adoption in Saudi Arabia that combines the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), and Perceived Security-Based Trust (PSBT). Analyzing data from 353 valid online survey responses using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), the model explains 67.3% of the variance in Behavioral Intention (R² = 0.673). It shows strong predictive relevance, with Q²predict values over 0.4. Key findings reveal that Perceived Ease of Use (β = 0.578) and PSBT (β = 0.748) significantly influence Perceived Usefulness and trust. Trust impacts both Subjective Norms (β = 0.691) and Perceived Behavioral Control (β = 0.693), highlighting its role in facilitating social and self-regulatory pathways to adoption. Although PU and Attitude mediate PEU and PSBT effects on Behavioral Intention, Subjective Norms show no direct influence, differing from typical TPB expectations. This research highlights trust-related mechanisms as primary drivers of digital adoption in cautious cultures, enhancing theoretical understanding of TAM-TPB integration in security-sensitive contexts and offering practical guidance for banks to improve usability and trust.