Assessing the Relevance of Green Banking Practice on Bank Loyalty: The Mediating Effect of Green Image and Bank Trust
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
In this paper, the authors study by means of structural equation models if there is a significant relationship between Green banking practice and bank loyalty. Furthermore, they also analyze the mediating role of Green image and bank trust in the relationship between Green banking practice and bank loyalty, For this purpose, they focus on customers of the retail banking sector. Customers were randomly contacted through social media platforms. Thus, from 850 responses they got 551 valid data. Results show Green image significantly affects bank trust and bank loyalty. Whereas, Bank trust does not have a significant impact on bank loyalty. Focusing on the medianting roles: Green image mediates the relationship between green banking practice and bank loyalty, while bank trust does not mediate in the relationship between green banking practice and bank loyalty. The topic is interesting and some minor changes will improve the quality of the paper. First of all, English should be revised all through the text: i.e. Conflicts of Interest: "They" are no conflict of interest.
On the other hand, there is abundant literature which deals with SRI, Ethical Finance, Financial institutions "Social Performance" and/or ethical an environmental. issues.
Thus, the inclusion of the folowing seminal references in the theoretical framework will improve the quality of the paper:
Cervelló-Royo, R., Guijarro, F., & Martinez-Gomez, V. (2017). Social Performance considered within the global performance of Microfinance Institutions: A new approach. Operational Research, 1-19.
Igbudu, N., Garanti, Z., & Popoola, T. (2018). Enhancing Bank Loyalty through Sustainable Banking Practices: The Mediating Effect of Corporate Image. Sustainability, 10(11), 4050.
Korzeb, Z., & Samaniego-Medina, R. (2019). Sustainability Performance: A Comparative Analysis in the Polish Banking Sector. Sustainability, 11(3), 653.
Author Response
Comment 1: In this paper, the authors study by means of structural equation models if there is a significant relationship between Green banking practice and bank loyalty. Furthermore, they also analyze the mediating role of Green image and bank trust in the relationship between Green banking practice and bank loyalty, For this purpose, they focus on customers of the retail banking sector. Customers were randomly contacted through social media platforms. Thus, from 850 responses they got 551 valid data. Results show Green image significantly affects bank trust and bank loyalty. Whereas, Bank trust does not have a significant impact on bank loyalty. Focusing on the medianting roles: Green image mediates the relationship between green banking practice and bank loyalty, while bank trust does not mediate in the relationship between green banking practice and bank loyalty. The topic is interesting and some minor changes will improve the quality of the paper. First of all, English should be revised all through the text: i.e. Conflicts of Interest: "They" are no conflict of interest.
Response 1: The English has been revised all through the text and the spelling error in the Conflict of interest has been corrected as seen in line 439.
Comment 2: On the other hand, there is abundant literature which deals with SRI, Ethical Finance, Financial institutions "Social Performance" and/or ethical an environmental. issues.Thus, the inclusion of the folowing seminal references in the theoretical framework will improve the quality of the paper:
Cervelló-Royo, R., Guijarro, F., & Martinez-Gomez, V. (2017). Social Performance considered within the global performance of Microfinance Institutions: A new approach. Operational Research, 1-19.
Igbudu, N., Garanti, Z., & Popoola, T. (2018). Enhancing Bank Loyalty through Sustainable Banking Practices: The Mediating Effect of Corporate Image. Sustainability, 10(11), 4050.
Korzeb, Z., & Samaniego-Medina, R. (2019). Sustainability Performance: A Comparative Analysis in the Polish Banking Sector. Sustainability, 11(3), 653.
Response 2: Two of the three references recommended has been added and can be found in line 84 and 93 respectively.
Igbudu, N., Garanti, Z., & Popoola, T. (2018). Enhancing Bank Loyalty through Sustainable Banking Practices: The Mediating Effect of Corporate Image. Sustainability, 10(11), 4050, had already been sited in the SRI section and can be found in line 106.
Reviewer 2 Report
The is an interesting research which contributes to the existing literature by analyzing the perspective of customers on green banking practice and the effect on bank loyalty while exploring the mediating effect of green image and bank trust in the relationship between green banking practice and bank loyalty. This paper has many strengths and some opportunities for improvement, which I will elaborate below:
Abstract has inappropriate structure. I suggest to answer the following aspects: - general context - novelty of the work - methodology used - main results
Introduction presents interesting information. It is really well structured and comprehensive. In this section I would see a clear focus on the difference between green and sustainable finance.
Literature review is well structured. However, I would really appreciate the author discuss relevant literature and related perspectives dealing with green finance and green investments. Some reference to start with are:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211467X19300513
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/2/517
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421518308516
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040162517306820
http://www.accessecon.com/Pubs/EB/2018/Volume38/EB-18-V38-I4-P203.pdf
Results must be linked to the methodology. Please define the relationship and relate your finding with the relevant literature.
Why there are no discussions? You have together discussion and conclusions with the result to have both of them extremely succinct. It is important to provide interpretation towards a broader context. I would see a discussion section moving some information from other sections.
Finally, an extensive editing of English language and style is required.
Author Response
Comment 1: Abstract has inappropriate structure. I suggest to answer the following aspects: - general context - novelty of the work - methodology used - main results
Response 1: From the best of our understanding of this recommendation, the abstract has been restructured to include: the general context - novelty of the work - methodology used - main results and can be found in line 11-22.
Comment 2: Introduction presents interesting information. It is really well structured and comprehensive. In this section I would see a clear focus on the difference between green and sustainable finance.
Response 2: The author didn’t really understand what is expected of the reviewer, could you please rephrase for proper understanding?.
Comment 3: Literature review is well structured. However, I would really appreciate the author discuss relevant literature and related perspectives dealing with green finance and green investments. Some reference to start with are:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211467X19300513
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/2/517
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421518308516
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040162517306820
http://www.accessecon.com/Pubs/EB/2018/Volume38/EB-18-V38-I4-P203.pdf
Response 3: Four out of the five reference has been added to the article and can be found in line 115, 126, 128 and 138 respectively.
Comment 4: Results must be linked to the methodology. Please define the relationship and relate your finding with the relevant literature.
Response 4: The relationship has been defined and findings has been related to relevant literature. This can be found in line 341-346.
Comment 5: Why there are no discussions? You have together discussion and conclusions with the result to have both of them extremely succinct. It is important to provide interpretation towards a broader context. I would see a discussion section moving some information from other sections.
Response 5: The discussion and conclusion sections has been separated and can be seen in section 5 and 6 respectively.
Comment 6: Finally, an extensive editing of English language and style is required.
Response 6: English language has been extensively edited.
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
I have no further major comments since the authors carefully improved the manuscript.
