Anas Ahmad Bani Atta

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Fintech can bridge the financial gap between urban and rural areas. Yet, its impact on rural development in developing nations remains understudied. This paper analyzes the impact of fintech adoption by rural households and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Jordan, a developing country. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study analyzed data from 242 survey participants and conducted interviews with fintech policymakers and service providers. The sample covered rural areas with no banking infrastructure but emerging digital adoption, thus refining the findings to the greater Jordan rural area. The findings indicate that the adoption of fintech markedly improves financial inclusion and rural economic development, especially access to credit, digital payments, and entrepreneurship. The qualitative data provide further insights into barriers to digital economic growth, including inadequate infrastructure, low digital literacy, and a lack of regulatory framework. Overall, the study demonstrates that fintech adoption can significantly transform rural areas of Jordan, provided they have the right institutional and digital infrastructure.