International Research Journal of Education and Technology

This paper explores the variables that determine credit card choice, usage preference, and customer satisfaction of 106 respondents in urban, semi-urban, and rural settings using descriptive statistics, reliability tests, one-sample t-tests, independent-sample t-tests, chi-square tests, and multiple regression analysis. The structured questionnaire comprised 32 Likert-scale items across three constructs: Selection Factors (15 items, α = 0.808), Usage Preference (10 items, α = 0.719), and Satisfaction and Responsible Use (7 items, α = 0.642), and three demographic predictors: Gender, Age, and Income. Results reveal a dominant pattern of consumer neutrality toward credit cards. Among 35 one-sample t-tests with the midpoint (μ₀ = 3.00), emergency short-term flexibility was the only item to deviate significantly (mean = 3.340, p = 0.004), confirming the primary role of the card as a financial safety net. Satisfaction trends slightly negative (composite mean = 2.953), and a feature-confidence gap is noted: respondents recognize card features but doubt their value, debt avoidance capacity, and recommendation intent. A significant association was found between area of residence and card usage pattern (χ² = 18.488, p = 0.047), with urban consumers preferring big-ticket purchases and fuel, and rural consumers preferring travel. No significant gender differences in usage (p = 0.107) or relationship between app frequency and financial literacy (p = 0.179) were found. Multiple regression indicates that demographic predictors explain limited variance: R² = 0.062 (Selection), 0.117 (Usage), and 0.064 (Satisfaction), with only the usage model approaching significance (p = 0.050). The study concludes that credit card attitudes are highly personalized and shaped more by personal conditions and geographic location than demographics. Implications encompass repositioning cards around financial resilience, developing geographically differentiated products, and transitioning from demographic to behavioral segmentation.

Keywords: Credit cards, consumer behavior, credit card selection, usage preference, financial literacy, digital usability, perceived security, repayment behavior