Financial Cognition And Sustainable Fintech Adoption: Behavioral Insights From Data-Driven Payment Ecosystems In Bangalore

Abstract

In India's fastest-developing digital centers, including Bangalore, the expansion of data-fueled payment systems is starting to transform the manner in which people conceptualize and handle money. The increasing adoption of mobile wallets, UPI-based transfers, and algorithmic payment interfaces is not just modifying transaction behavior but also shaping financial cognition — the cognitive processes that enable people to make judgments, reach decisions, and trust financial transactions. This research examines how city consumers understand monetary value, experience convenience, and navigate risks in these technologically facilitated spaces. It also addresses how concerns regarding privacy, digital literacy, and system openness influence user confidence and choice. The investigation indicates that although speed and access enhance financial ease, a sense of uncertainty regarding security and the use of data still influences user behavior. By placing financial cognition within the context of Bangalore's growing payment system, the paper provides insights for policymakers, fintech engineers, and educators looking to build payment platforms that are not only optimized but also psychologically inclusive. Fintech entrepreneurship is key to fuelling inclusive and sustainable digital economies through the provision of accessible financial services to unserved populations. Cognitive aspects, including financial literacy and online platform trust, can be used to guide strategies for the sustainable development of start-ups and SMEs in Asia in order to promote broad-based participation in the digital economy. Digital inclusion is inextricably interconnected with social and economic sustainability because equal access to financial services promotes collective empowerment and resilience.