The problem addressed in this study was whether real or perceived barriers exist among higher education finance professionals, which may influence their perceptions of risk and trustworthiness to adopt FinTech. The purpose of this study was to address whether or not perceptions of the risks and trustworthiness of software applications used in financial operations, known as FinTech, affected decisions to invest in and adopt the software tools. The target population was chief financial or chief business officers employed in permanent, full-time positions in the higher education finance and business units among Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The relationship of perceptions of risk and trustworthiness impacts transformation and innovation within the higher education finance units as well as budgetary and compliance related decision-making and activities for finance professionals. The study was grounded in the theory of planned behavior (TPB). The research methodology was qualitative phenomenological. The participants were invited by email and phone to complete a semi-structured interview with two research questions. The research questions focused on participants' perceptions of the risks and of the trustworthiness of FinTech tools. The results were analyzed using the qualitative research design framework of interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA). Participants expressed concerns about the risks of FinTech tools in finance operations within the HBCUs. Causes of their hesitancy were associated with the changing landscape of technology and the HBCUs' abilities to provide budgetary support, overcome high turnover rates in staffing, and attract and retain qualified personnel to implement the desired systems. The associations between risk and trustworthiness were integrated since risk factors informed perceptions of trustworthiness. Future research will be needed to explore how to enhance training and exposure to FinTech tools to create a stronger culture of sustainable innovation. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]