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Exploring the Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility Communication through Social Media on Banking Customer E-WOM and Loyalty in Times of Crisis

Author

Listed:
  • Dianxi Zhang

    (Economics and Management School, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China)

  • Asif Mahmood

    (Department of Business Studies, Namal Institute, Mianwali 42250, Pakistan)

  • Antonio Ariza-Montes

    (Social Matters Research Group, Universidad Loyola Andalucía, C/Escritor Castilla Aguayo, 4 14004 Córdoba, Spain)

  • Alejandro Vega-Muñoz

    (Public Policy Observatory, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, 425 Pedro de Valdivia Avenue, Providencia, Santiago 7500912, Chile)

  • Naveed Ahmad

    (Faculty of Management Studies, University of Central Punjab, Lahore 54000, Pakistan)

  • Heesup Han

    (College of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Sejong University, 98 Gunja-Dong, Gwanjin-Gu, Seoul 143-747, Korea)

  • Muhammad Safdar Sial

    (Department of Management Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan)

Abstract

Previous studies have largely explored corporate social responsibility (CSR) for organization-centric outcomes to achieve organizational performance, organizational commitment, or organizational citizenship behavior. However, the importance of CSR to achieve customer-centric outcomes is underexplored to date. Contemporary researchers have recently turned their attention toward CSR from the viewpoint of customer-centric outcomes. Therefore, the present study attempts to test the influence of CSR communication on social media and customer loyalty in the banking sector of a developing economy in times of crisis. This study also investigates the mediating effect of electronic word of mouth (E-WOM) with this relationship. The data of the present study were collected from different banking customers using a self-administered questionnaire. The empirical findings of this study validated that the CSR communication of a bank on social media increases customer loyalty, and E-WOM partially mediates this relationship. This study will be helpful for the banking sector to understand the importance of CSR communication to increase customer loyalty, which is very important for every bank in times of crisis.

Suggested Citation

  • Dianxi Zhang & Asif Mahmood & Antonio Ariza-Montes & Alejandro Vega-Muñoz & Naveed Ahmad & Heesup Han & Muhammad Safdar Sial, 2021. "Exploring the Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility Communication through Social Media on Banking Customer E-WOM and Loyalty in Times of Crisis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-14, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:9:p:4739-:d:545970
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Akbari, Morteza & Foroudi, Pantea & Zaman Fashami, Rahime & Mahavarpour, Nasrin & Khodayari, Maryam, 2022. "Let us talk about something: The evolution of e-WOM from the past to the future," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 663-689.
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    7. Cao, Peng & Sial, Muhammad Safdar & Ã lvarez-Otero, Susana & Brugni, Talles Vianna & Comite, Ubaldo, 2024. "Eco-engagement: Tracing CSR communication's ripple effect on consumer hospitality loyalty," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    8. Gelashvili, Vera & Martínez-Navalón, Juan Gabriel & DeMatos, Nelson & de Brito Correia, Marisol, 2024. "Technological transformation: The importance of E-WOM and perceived privacy in the context of opinion platforms," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    9. Luigi Leclercq-Machado & Aldo Alvarez-Risco & Sharon Esquerre-Botton & Camila Almanza-Cruz & Maria de las Mercedes Anderson-Seminario & Shyla Del-Aguila-Arcentales & Jaime A. Yáñez, 2022. "Effect of Corporate Social Responsibility on Consumer Satisfaction and Consumer Loyalty of Private Banking Companies in Peru," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-17, July.
    10. Shilong Wei & Muhammad Safdar Sial & Wenxia Zhou & Alina Badulescu & Daniel Badulescu, 2021. "Improving the Environmental Footprint through Employees: A Case of Female Leaders from the Perspective of CSR," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-23, December.
    11. Huan Zhang & Khaoula Omhand & Huaizheng Li & Aqeel Ahmad & Sarminah Samad & Darie Gavrilut & Daniel Badulescu, 2022. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Energy-Related Pro-Environmental Behaviour of Employees in Hospitality Industry," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-19, December.

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