Journal of Service Research and Studies (서비스연구)

The Society of service Science (서비스사이언스학회)
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Consumer Behavior in Achieving the Goals of ESG Banking Products: Focusing on environmental awareness and saving behavior

ESG 금융상품의 목표 달성에 미치는 소비자 행동에 관한 탐색적 연구 -환경인식과 저축행동을 중심으로-

  • Inkwan Cho (Department of Management of Technology, Yonsei University) ;
  • Bong Gyou Lee (Graduate school of Information, Yonsei University)
  • 조인관 (연세대학교 기술경영학협동과정 ) ;
  • 이봉규 (연세대학교 정보대학원 )
  • Received : 2024.04.22
  • Accepted : 2024.05.31
  • Published : 2024.06.30
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Abstract

ESG has become a necessity for all companies, and major Korean banks are actively practicing ESG management. Banks are playing a role in providing ESG finance as intermediaries in the supply of funds. Recently, they have launched ESG digital banking products that offer preferential interest rates for eco-friendly activities in combination with digital technologies. However, indiscriminate provision of preferential interest rates can adversely affect profitability of banks, and they may face the problem of 'Greenwashing' if they do not contribute to improving environmental awareness. Therefore, this study selected ESG digital savings products linked to electricity savings as the subject of the study, and empirically analyzed consumers' environmental awareness and savings behavior through actual data of consumers (N=2,478). The main findings of this study are as follows First, the analysis of the consumer status of ESG digital banking products shows that the 30-50s are the main consumer base, and the MZ generation shows relatively high performance in achieving preferential interest rates through electricity saving practices. Second, consumers' environmental awareness has a significant impact on achieving the goals of ESG banking products. ESG banking products can contribute to environmental awareness while fulfilling the basic function of saving. Third, environmental awareness did not drive consumers' savings contribution behavior, suggesting the need for continued consumer engagement. Based on environmental awareness and the theory of saving behavior, this study provides a theoretical explanation in ESG financial products. The results suggest that the appropriateness of the preferential interest rate design of ESG financial products is important.

ESG는 모든 기업에게 선택이 아닌 필수 사항이 되었으며, 국내 주요 은행들도 ESG 경영을 적극적으로 실천하고 있다. 은행은 ESG 내부활동 뿐만 아니라 자금공급의 중개자로 ESG 금융을 제공하는 역할을 수행하고 있다. 최근에는 디지털 신기술과 결합하여 친환경 활동 수행 시 우대금리를 제공하는 ESG 금융상품을 출시하고 있다. 그러나, 무분별한 우대금리 제공은 은행의 수익성에 악영향을 미칠 수 있으며, 환경인식 개선에 실질적으로 기여하지 못할 경우 그린워싱(Greenwashing) 문제에 직면할 수 있다. 이에 본 연구는 전기 절약과 연동된 ESG 디지털 적금상품을 연구 대상으로 선정하고, 가입자의 실제 데이터를 통하여 소비자의 환경인식과 저축행동을 실증적으로 분석하였다(표본수 2,478개). 본 연구의 주요 결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, ESG 디지털 적금상품의 가입 현황을 분석한 결과, 30~50대가 주요 고객층으로 나타났으며, MZ세대는 다른 세대에 비해 전기 절약 실천을 통한 우대금리 달성에 있어 상대적으로 높은 성과를 보였다. 둘째, 소비자의 환경인식은 ESG 금융상품의 목표 달성에 유의한 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. ESG 디지털 적금상품은 저축의 기본 기능에 충실함과 동시에 환경인식을 높이는 데 기여할 수 있음이 확인되었다. 셋째, 환경인식은 소비자의 저축 납입행동을 유도하지 못했으며, 이는 지속적인 소비자 관여가 필요함을 시사한다. 본 연구는 환경인식(Environmental Awareness)과 저축행동이론(Theory of Saving Behavior)을 기반으로 ESG 금융상품의 목표 달성에 미치는 소비자 인식 및 행동을 학문적으로 설명하였다. 연구의 결과는 ESG 금융상품의 우대금리 설계의 적정성이 중요함을 시사한다.

Keywords

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