Mumbai’s telecom giant Bharti Airtel is making a bold leap into India’s booming financial services sector. The company announced on Monday a massive Rs 20,000 crore investment through its non-banking financial company (NBFC) arm, Airtel Money Limited, to supercharge its digital lending operations over the coming years.
This strategic infusion aims to solidify Airtel’s footprint in the rapidly expanding fintech landscape while tackling India’s persistent credit gap. Of the total commitment, Airtel will shoulder 70% of the funding, with the remaining 30% coming from promoter group Bharti Enterprises Limited.
Executive Vice Chairman Gopal Vittal highlighted the platform’s proven track record, crediting its success to seamless integration of technology, data analytics, and customer trust. ‘Our NBFC expansion builds on this solid foundation, aligning with our vision for a future-ready digital lending business rooted in trust, innovation, and financial inclusion,’ he stated.
Airtel Money secured its NBFC license from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on February 13, 2026, marking a pivotal regulatory milestone. This move is positioned as a key step toward deeper financial inclusion, delivering simple, secure, and innovative digital services to customers nationwide.
In just two years, Airtel has built a robust digital lending platform that has disbursed over Rs 9,000 crore in loans. The lending service provider (LSP) model has driven impressive growth through disciplined underwriting, superior portfolio management, and real-time risk monitoring.
Backed by over 500 data scientists, Airtel’s data and analytics engine has enabled swift scalability without compromising loan performance. The company emphasized that while it holds the necessary RBI registration, the central bank does not guarantee its financial health or repayment obligations.
As digital finance reshapes India’s economy, Airtel’s ambitious play could redefine access to credit for millions, blending telecom prowess with fintech innovation to bridge critical gaps in underserved markets.