Bharti Airtel has announced plans to capitalize its Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC), Airtel Money Limited, by Rs 20,000 crore over the next few years. The move aims to scale access to digital credit and strengthen financial inclusion across India.
As per the plan, 70% of the equity will be infused by Airtel, while the remaining 30% will be contributed by the promoter group through Bharti Enterprises Limited.
Speaking about the expansion, Gopal Vittal, Executive Vice Chairman, Bharti Airtel, said, “The success of our LSP platform over the past two years is a testament to our ability to combine technology, data and customer trust to deliver impact on a national scale. We have built one of India’s most trusted and scalable, supported by our high-performance, high-quality, reach-to-me digital credit engines. NBFC strengthens this foundation and reflects our ambition to build a differentiated, future-ready digital lending business – one that stands for trust, innovation and financial inclusion.
Building a large-scale digital credit platform
Airtel revealed that it has spent the last two years building a digital credit platform, backed by a powerful data and analytics engine and a team of over 500 data scientists. The platform integrates Airtel’s digital channels with advanced underwriting and risk management capabilities.
Highlights of the platform include:
- ₹ 9,000 crore in loan disbursements till date
- Strong delinquency results, driven by robust underwriting patterns
- Real-time risk monitoring and portfolio management systems
The company says these capabilities position Airtel Money to scale lending responsibly while maintaining asset quality.
Focus on financial inclusion
Airtel said its NBFC expansion is in line with India’s need to improve access to formal credit. According to Care Edge Ratings, India’s official credit-to-GDP ratio stands at 53%, indicating significant room for growth.
Through Airtel Money Limited, the company aims to:
- Expand access to simple and digital credit products
- Reach the unserved and underbanked segments
- Leverage Airtel’s large customer base and digital infrastructure
NBFC and LSP operations to run in parallel
Airtel clarified that the NBFC will operate alongside its existing Lending Service Provider (LSP) platform, with clear operational separation between the two entities. Customers will continue to access services through Airtel’s integrated digital platform, ensuring a seamless experience while complying with regulatory requirements.
RBI Approval and Regulatory Disclosure
Airtel Money Limited received its NBFC license from the Reserve Bank of India on February 13, 2026.
As mandated by the RBI, Airtel included the following disclaimer:
- “The Company has a valid Certificate of Incorporation dated 13/02/2026 issued by the Reserve Bank of India under Section 45 IA of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. However, the Reserve Bank of India does not accept any responsibility or guarantee as to the current position regarding the financial soundness of the Company or for any represented and correct opinion expressed by the Company. repayment of deposits/repayment of obligations from society.”
The planned capital infusion is designed to leverage Airtel’s technology stack, data capabilities and nationwide digital reach to build a secure, scalable and compliant financial services business. Airtel believes this approach will help accelerate responsible credit growth while supporting India’s broader digital and economic development goals.
