Bharti Airtel to Invest ₹20,000 Crore to Build High-Scale NBFC Platform
New Delhi, February 23, 2026: Bharti Airtel Limited has unveiled ambitious plans to significantly expand its financial services footprint by scaling up its Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), Airtel Money Limited.
The company announced that the NBFC will be capitalised with ₹20,000 crore over the next few years. Airtel will contribute 70% of the capital, while the remaining 30% will be infused by the promoter group through Bharti Enterprises Limited.
Strengthening India’s Digital Credit Ecosystem
Airtel’s move comes at a time when India’s formal credit-to-GDP ratio stands at 53%, indicating significant headroom for growth in lending and financial inclusion.
The expansion builds on Airtel’s strong digital lending foundation developed over the past two years. The company has already created a high-performance Lending Service Provider (LSP) platform that has achieved over ₹9,000 crore in disbursements, supported by disciplined underwriting, real-time risk monitoring, and robust portfolio management.
Gopal Vittal, Executive Vice Chairman of Bharti Airtel, said the success of the LSP platform demonstrates Airtel’s ability to combine technology, data, and customer trust at scale.
“Our NBFC expansion 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,” he said.
RBI License and Regulatory Compliance
Airtel Money Limited received its NBFC license from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on February 13, 2026, under Section 45 IA of the RBI Act, 1934.
As per RBI guidance, the company clarified that while it holds a valid Certificate of Registration, the RBI does not guarantee the financial soundness of the company or take responsibility for statements made by it.
Seamless Integration with Digital Platform
The NBFC’s disbursement journey will be integrated with Airtel’s existing LSP platform, while maintaining operational segregation to ensure regulatory clarity and customer transparency.
With over 600 million customers across 15 countries, Airtel plans to leverage its vast digital ecosystem, data analytics engine powered by 500+ data scientists, and strong distribution network to rapidly expand access to secure and innovative financial services.
The expansion into NBFC operations marks a strategic adjacency for Airtel, helping diversify its portfolio beyond telecom services and positioning the company as a significant player in India’s fast-growing digital financial services market.