Airtel unveils Rs 20,000 crore NBFC expansion plan

Airtel Money received its NBFC licence from the Reserve Bank of India on February 13, 2026

Metro India News | NEW DELHI

Bharti Airtel has announced an ambitious expansion of its financial services business, outlining plans to capitalise its newly licensed NBFC arm, Airtel Money Limited, with Rs 20,000 crore over the next few years. The company will contribute 70 per cent of the capital, while the remaining 30 per cent will come from the promoter group through Bharti Enterprises.

Airtel Money received its NBFC licence from the Reserve Bank of India on February 13, 2026. The move marks a significant push by Airtel into India’s fast-growing digital lending space, with a focus on narrowing the country’s credit gap and enhancing financial inclusion.

Over the past two years, Airtel has built a strong lending service provider platform, achieving over Rs 9,000 crore in loan disbursements. The company said its digital credit engine, powered by advanced data analytics and supported by more than 500 data scientists, has delivered strong underwriting and portfolio performance.

With India’s formal credit-to-GDP ratio at 53 per cent, Airtel sees vast potential for expansion. The NBFC’s disbursement operations will be integrated with Airtel’s existing digital platform, while maintaining operational separation, as the company aims to scale secure and innovative financial services nationwide.