Mohammad.Fahim at 04:31, 4 March 2026

2026-03-04T04:31:34Z

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{{Short description|Indian Payments Bank}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Airtel Payments Bank Limited
| logo = Airtel Payments Bank.svg
| logo_caption = Airtel Payments Bank Logo
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| traded_as =
| foundation = {{Start date and age|df=y|2016|11|23}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Kotak Bank to sell shares of Airtel Payments Bank to Bharti Enterprises |url=https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/kotak-mahindra-bank-to-sell-20-cr-shares-of-airtel-payments-bank-to-bharti-enterprises-for-rs-294-cr-11630390450096.html |access-date=22 October 2022 |work=mint |date=31 August 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
| location = Bharti Crescent, 1, Nelson Mandela Road, Vasant Kunj, Phase II, [[New Delhi]], [[Delhi]]-110070
| industry = [[Financial services]]
| area_served = India
| products = {{Unbulleted list|[[Banking]]|[[Retail Banking]]}}
| revenue = {{up}}{{INRConvert|1291|c}}(FY23)
| net_income = {{up}}{{INRConvert|21.7|c}}(FY23)
| key_people = Anubrata Biswas ([[Managing director|MD]] & [[Chief executive officer|CEO]])<ref name="Airtel Payments Bank ropes in Anubrata Biswas as its chief executive">{{cite news|title=Airtel Payments Bank ropes in Anubrata Biswas as its chief executive|url=https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/airtel-payments-bank-ropes-in-anubrata-biswas-as-its-chief-executive/64303395|access-date=25 May 2018|publisher=telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com}}</ref>
| num_employees =
| parent = [[Bharti Airtel]]
| subsid =
| homepage = {{URL|https://airtelpayments.bank.in}}
| footnotes =
}}

'''Airtel Payments Bank''' is an Indian payments bank with its headquarters in [[New Delhi]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Airtel launches India's first payments bank with 250,000 banking points; to invest Rs 30 billion in creating ecosystem of 5 million merchants |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/airtel-launches-indias-first-payments-bank-with-250000-banking-points-to-invest-rs-30-billion-in-creating-ecosystem-of-5-million-merchants/505651/ |work=Financial Express | date=12 January 2017 | accessdate=4 December 2022 |language=en}}</ref> The company is a subsidiary of [[Bharti Airtel]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jain |first1=Upasana |title=Airtel launches India's first payments bank |url=https://www.livemint.com/Industry/fcR6oefmVxL8A8rzVB4TJK/Airtel-launches-Indias-first-payments-bank.html |work=livemint.com |date=23 November 2016}}</ref>
On 5 January 2022, it was granted the [[Scheduled Banks (India)|scheduled bank]] status by the [[Reserve Bank of India]] under the second schedule of [[Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934|RBI Act, 1934]].<ref>{{cite news |title=airtel: Airtel Payments Bank gets scheduled bank status from RBI - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/airtel-payments-bank-gets-scheduled-bank-status-from-rbi/articleshow/88698100.cms |access-date=5 January 2022 |work=The Times of India |agency=PTI |language=en}}</ref>

==History==
In 2015, eleven companies received In-principle approval from the [[Reserve Bank of India]] to set up Payments Bank under the guidelines for Licensing of Payments Bank.<ref name="bs">{{Cite news|agency=Press Trust of India|date=2016-11-24|title=Airtel Payments Bank goes live with pilot project in Rajasthan|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/airtel-payments-bank-goes-live-with-pilot-project-in-rajasthan-116112300714_1.html#:~:text=Airtel%20Payments%20Bank,%20a%20subsidiary,go%20live%20in%20the%20country.|access-date=2020-12-29}}</ref>

On 11 April 2016, Airtel Payments Bank became the first company to receive the [[Payments bank|Payments Bank]] license from the [[Reserve Bank of India]] under Section 22 (1) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. Airtel Payments Bank started with an 80:20 partnership between [[Bharti Airtel]] and [[Kotak Mahindra Bank]].<ref name=CNMP-PS-DX-2016-DXB-PLT1>{{cite web |title=Bharti Airtel-Kotak Mahindra Bank JV gets payment bank license from RBI|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/banking/finance/banking/bharti-airtel-kotak-mahindra-bank-jv-gets-payment-bank-license-from-rbi/articleshow/51780412.cms|website=economictimes.indiatimes.com |date=11 April 2016 |access-date=14 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Airtel Payments Bank launched, with vow to shake up old banking system |url=https://www.livemint.com/Industry/FxxxxsTZvCQuJt4I90upnK/Airtel-Payments-Bank-to-be-launched-today.html |access-date=1 May 2021 |work=mint |date=12 January 2017 |language=en}}</ref>

Bharti Airtel launched Airtel Payments Bank in September 2016 and went live with its pilot project in [[Rajasthan]] in November 2016.<ref name="bs"/> It was launched nationally in January 2017 to support the cashless revolution promised by the [[Government of India]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=About Us {{!}} Airtel Payments Bank|url=https://www.airtel.in/bank/about-us|access-date=2021-07-09|website=www.airtel.in}}</ref>

In August 2021, Kotak Mahindra sold its stake to [[Bharti Enterprises]]. As of 31 December 2021, 99.9% equity capital of the Bank is owned by the Bharti Group of Companies. The bank turned profitable in the quarter ended 30 September 2021, with an annual revenue run rate of ₹1,000 crore.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kotak to sell 8.6% stake in Airtel Bank to Bharti Enterprises |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/news/kotak-bank-to-sell-20-cr-shares-of-airtel-payments-bank-to-bharti-enterprises-for-rs-294-cr/articleshow/85789854.cms |website=The Economic Times|date=September 2021 }}</ref>

In 2024, it was named among [[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'s Fintech Innovators Asia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fintech Innovators Asia |url=https://fortune.com/asia/ranking/fintech-innovators-asia/ |access-date=2026-01-14 |website=Fortune |language=en}}</ref>

== Services ==
Airtel Payments Bank has 155 million users and serves them through its digital platform and a retail-based distribution network.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Airtel Payments Bank has 155 million customers |date=20 March 2023 |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/business/banking-finance-airtel-payments-bank-to-exit-fy23-with-over-rs-1300-cr-revenue-3015103/}}</ref> The Bank has built a network of over 500,000+ neighborhood banking points.<ref>{{cite web |title=Airtel Payments Bank receives scheduled bank status from RBI |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/money-and-banking/airtel-payments-bank-receives-scheduled-bank-status-from-rbi/article38115307.ece |website=Thehindubusinessline.com |language=en |date=4 January 2022}}</ref>

=== Digital payments ===
In September 2017, Airtel Payments Bank launched [[Unified Payments Interface|UPI]] enabled digital payments to facilitate secure digital payments. Customers need to link their bank accounts on [[BHIM]] before they can make [[Unified Payments Interface|UPI payments]]. For UPI-based payments and transfers, customers are not required to furnish their bank details to enable transactions.<ref>{{cite news |title=Airtel Payments Bank launches UPI enabled digital payments |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/banking/finance/banking/airtel-payments-bank-launches-upi-enabled-digital-payments/articleshow/60718909.cms |work=The Economic Times |date=17 September 2017}}</ref>

Airtel Money is a [[]] by Airtel Payment Bank that allows users to make payments using "Airtel Thanks App" or [[Unstructured Supplementary Service Data|USSD]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Verma |first1=Pallavi Arun |title=Airtel Payments Bank UPI – the easiest and fastest way to transfer money |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/wealth/spend/airtel-payments-bank-upi-the-easiest-and-fastest-way-to-transfer-money/articleshow/60966331.cms |website=The Economic Times|date=25 October 2017 }}</ref>

=== FASTag ===
Airtel Payments Bank launched the issuance of [[FASTag]] in November 2019, offline and online.<ref>{{cite web |title=Airtel Payments Bank, Park+ tie up to offer FASTag-based parking solutions |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/airtel-payments-bank-park-tie-up-to-offer-fastag-based-parking-solutions-122010600941_1.html |website=Business Standard India |date=6 January 2022}}</ref>

===Airtel Safe Pay===
In 2021, The Bank launched ‘Airtel Safe Pay’ that provides an additional layer of payment validation compared to the industry norm of two-factor authentication.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Guha |first1=Ishita |title=Airtel Payments Banks launches 'safe pay' to curb online frauds |url=https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/airtel-payments-banks-launches-safe-pay-to-curb-online-frauds-11611135817629.html |website=mint |language=en |date=20 January 2021}}</ref>

=== Insurance and pension ===
In July 2019, Airtel Payments Bank partnered with Bharti AXA General Insurance.<ref>{{cite news|date=2 July 2019|title=Airtel Payments Bank partners with Bharti AXA Life to offer term insurance|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/wealth/insure/life-insurance/airtel-payments-bank-partners-with-bharti-axa-life-to-offer-term-insurance/articleshow/70036151.cms?from=mdr}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Airtel Payments Bank partners with Bharti AXA Life to offer pure term insurance|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/money-and-banking/airtel-payments-bank-partners-with-bharti-axa-life-to-offer-pure-term-insurance/article28258613.ece|website=@businessline|date=2 July 2019 |language=en}}</ref> Airtel Payments Bank and Bharti Axa Life Insurance have started to provide the government's insurance plan [[Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana]] in August 2018.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dua |first1=Priyanka |title=Airtel Payments Bank join hands with Bharti AXA Life Insurance to offer Rs. 2 lakh insurance cover |url=https://www.gizbot.com/news/airtel-payments-bank-join-hands-with-bharti-axa-life-insurance-offer-rs-2-lakh-insurance-cover-053088.html |work=gizbot.com/ |date=16 August 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Bharti AXA, Airtel Payments Bank team up to offer Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana - ET Telecom |url=https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/bharti-axa-airtel-payments-bank-team-up-to-offer-pradhan-mantri-jeevan-jyoti-bima-yojana/65421955 |work=ETTelecom.com |language=en}}</ref> In 2019, Airtel Payments Bank started offering [[Atal Pension Yojana]] (a [[Government of India]] initiative) through its platform.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.medianama.com/2020/03/223-airtel-payments-bank-aadhaar-enabled-payment-service/|title=Airtel Payments Bank launches Aadhaar-enabled payment service: Report|date=2020-03-02|website=MediaNama|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-31}}</ref>

=== DigiGold ===
In May 2021, Airtel Payments Bank launched DigiGold, a digital platform for its customers to make investments in gold. DigiGold has been launched in partnership with SafeGold, a provider of digital gold.<ref>{{cite news |title=Airtel Payments Bank launches 'DigiGold' platform for customers to invest in gold |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/tech-bytes/airtel-payments-bank-launches-digigold-platform-for-customers-to-invest-in-gold/articleshow/82607299.cms |website=The Economic Times|date=13 May 2021 }}</ref>

=== Airtel Payments Bank Smartwatch ===
Airtel Payments Bank collaborated with Noise and the [[National Payments Corporation of India]] (NPCI), launched a smartwatch that incorporates [[RuPay]] chip embedded in the dial, enabling direct payments.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Khan |first=MD Ijaj |date=2024-08-29 |title=Airtel Payments Bank in collaboration with Noise and NPCI launches RuPay smartwatch in India- All details |url=https://tech.hindustantimes.com/wearables/news/airtel-payments-bank-in-collaboration-with-noise-and-npci-launches-rupay-smartwatch-in-india-all-details-71724918702603.html |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=HT Tech |language=en}}</ref>

==Financials==
The Bank's capital at its establishment was Rs 3,000 crore (US$441 million).<ref>{{cite web |title=Airtel Payments Bank goes national and live in all 29 States |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/money-and-banking/airtel-payments-bank-goes-live-in-29-states/article64302734.ece#:~:text=Promoters%20of%20Airtel%20Payments%20Bank,Bharti%20Enterprises%2C%20said%20on%20Thursday. |website=Thehindubusinessline.com |language=en |date=12 January 2017}}</ref>

In 2018–19, Airtel Payments Bank reported a loss of ₹338 crore,<ref>{{cite news |title=Airtel Payment Bank loss widens to ₹339 crore in FY19, revenue jumps 59% |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/current/corporate/airtel-payment-bank-loss-widens-to-rs-339-crore-in-fy19/story/373765.html |publisher=[[Business Today (India)|Business Today]] |date=19 August 2019}}</ref> while it registered a loss of ₹272 crore in the financial year 2017–18.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Merwin |first1=Radhika |title=Why five out of the 11 payments banks have shut shop |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/money-and-banking/five-out-of-the-11-payments-banks-have-shut-operations-why/article29381134.ece |publisher=[[The Hindu Business Line]] |date=10 September 2019}}</ref> In FY 20, its revenues rose 87% to ₹474 crore.<ref>{{cite news |title=Airtel Payments Bank's revenue up 87% in FY20 |url=https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/airtel-payments-bank-s-revenue-up-87-in-fy20-11593327563724.html |publisher=[[Livemint]] |date=28 June 2020}}</ref> It turned profitable in the quarter ended September 2021 and has achieved an annual revenue run rate of ₹1,000 crores.<ref>{{cite web |title=Airtel Payments Bank customers' deposit surges 75% to Rs 1,000 cr in 2021 |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/airtel-payments-bank-customers-deposit-surges-75-to-rs-1-000-cr-in-2021-122012700778_1.html |website=Business Standard India |date=27 January 2022}}</ref>

In December 2021, money deposited with Airtel Payments Bank surged 75 per cent to ₹1,000 crore as compared to 2020. Total share capital infused till date is ₹2,348 crores as per financials.<ref>{{cite news |title=Airtel Payments Bank customers' deposit surges 75% to Rs 1,000 crore in 2021 |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/banking/finance/banking/airtel-payments-bank-customers-deposit-surges-75-to-rs-1000-crore-in-2021/articleshow/89153715.cms |website=The Economic Times|date=27 January 2022 }}</ref>

== Legal challenges ==
The [[Unique Identification Authority of India]] (UIDAI) suspended [[Bharti Airtel]] and Airtel Payment Bank's licence for eKYC of [[Aadhar]] on 16 December 2017, following complaints from customers that their accounts were being opened without their consent. Some even received their LPG subsidies in their Airtel Payment Bank accounts.<ref>{{cite news|title=UIDAI suspends Airtel, Airtel Payments Bank's eKYC licence|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/business/companies/uidai-bharti-airtel-ekyc-4985801/|access-date=17 December 2017|work=[[The Indian Express]]|date=16 December 2017}}</ref> In March 2018, [[Reserve Bank of India|The Reserve Bank of India]] imposed a monetary penalty of ₹5 crore (₹50 million).<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-03-09 |title=RBI slaps Rs 5 crore penalty on Airtel Payments Bank for violation of norms |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/banking/finance/banking/rbi-slaps-rs-5-crore-penalty-on-airtel-payments-bank-for-violation-of-norms/articleshow/63235308.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2026-01-14 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref>

On 12 July 2018, Airtel Payments Bank received requisite approvals from the Reserved Bank of India and [[Aadhaar|Unique Identification Authority of India]] (UIDAI) to resume on-boarding new customers using of Aadhaar-based e-KYC.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gupta |first1=Komal |title=Airtel Payments Bank gets RBI nod to resume enrolling customers |url=https://www.livemint.com/Industry/aBZ86QhUUI7sYLSmwltiEO/Airtel-Payments-Bank-gets-RBI-nod-to-resume-taking-new-custo.html |work=livemint |date=12 July 2018}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Bharti Enterprises}}
{{Digital payment providers}}
{{FinTech in India}}
{{Banking in India}}
{{Kotak Mahindra Bank}}

[[Category:Airtel Payments Bank| ]]
[[Category:Banks established in 2017]]
[[Category:Payment service providers]]
[[Category:Mobile payments in India]]
[[Category:Indian brands]]
[[Category:2017 establishments in Delhi]]
[[Category:Financial services companies based in Delhi]]
[[Category:Companies based in New Delhi]]
[[Category:Private sector banks in India]]
[[Category:Bharti Airtel]]
[[Category:Kotak Mahindra Bank]]

Airtel Payments Bank - Revision history

Mohammad.Fahim at 04:31, 4 March 2026