Airtel Invests ₹20,000 Crore in NBFC Arm, Airtel Money – RBI Approved

Airtel Invests Rs 20,000 Crore to Expand Digital Lending Platform

India’s second-largest telecom operator, Bharti Airtel, is making a significant push into the financial services sector with a Rs 20,000 crore investment in its non-banking financial company (NBFC) subsidiary, Airtel Money. The investment, announced on Monday, February 23, 2026, will be made over the coming years, with Airtel contributing 70 percent and its parent company, Bharti Enterprises, providing the remaining 30 percent.

This move follows the recent receipt of a Certificate of Registration from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on February 13, 2026, allowing Airtel Money to operate as a Type II, non-deposit accepting NBFC. The company intends to leverage its extensive mobile phone user base – exceeding 369 million – alongside its technology, data analytics capabilities, and customer insights to build a robust and diversified lending business.

“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,” said Gopal Vittal, Executive Vice Chairman, Bharti Airtel.

Airtel has already demonstrated success in the digital lending space through its lending service platform (LSP), having disbursed over Rs 9,000 crore in loans over the past two years. The company plans to scale this platform further, capitalizing on its digital assets and a data and analytics engine powered by a team of over 500 data scientists. The LSP has reportedly achieved “best-in-class delinquency outcomes” through robust underwriting models and real-time risk monitoring.

Vittal emphasized the company’s ability to combine technology, data, and customer trust, stating, “The success of our LSP over the past two years is proof of our ability to combine technology, data, and customer trust to deliver impact at a national scale. We have built one of India’s most trusted and scalable digital credit engines—reaching millions with high-quality credit supported by industry-best performance metrics.”

The NBFC’s disbursement operations will be integrated with the existing LSP platform, while maintaining a clear operational separation between the two entities. This strategic integration aims to streamline processes and enhance efficiency.

The expansion into digital lending is seen as a strategic move to address the existing credit gap in India and promote financial inclusion. According to Care Edge Ratings, India’s formal credit-to-GDP ratio currently stands at 53 percent, indicating significant potential for growth in the financial services sector. Airtel aims to serve potentially underserved customers and contribute to a more inclusive financial ecosystem.

The investment underscores Airtel’s commitment to becoming a major player in India’s rapidly evolving financial landscape. By leveraging its existing infrastructure and customer base, the company is positioning itself to capitalize on the growing demand for digital financial services and expand access to credit across the country.