WhatsApp deepens fintech play with launch of bill payments in India
The Bharat Connect-powered feature gives users access to 22,722 billers across 30 categories and supports payments through UPI, credit cards and debit cards
On September 3, 2026, WhatsApp unveiled a new Bill payments feature in India, capitalizing on the country's rapidly growing digital payments landscape. The launch comes after National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) data revealed UPI processing reached a record 24.51 billion transactions in August 2026, with a transaction value of Rs 29.82 lakh crore, marking a 3.6% and 20% increase month-over-month, respectively.
India's UPI boom, initiated by NPCI in April 2016, has seen transaction volumes grow nearly 12,000-fold, with transaction values exceeding Rs 314 lakh crore in FY 2025-26. UPI now handles nearly half of global real-time payment volume, with over 700 banks live on the network. WhatsApp's Bill payments feature, powered by Bharat Connect (BBPS), grants users access to 22,722 billers across 30 categories, enabling secure payments for utilities such as electricity, gas, water, FASTag, insurance, credit card, and loan repayments.
The feature aims to simplify routine bill payments alongside WhatsApp's existing functionalities, including mobile recharges, metro ticket bookings, and government services.
Written by urgent.news from The Economic Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 1 other outlet
- WhatsApp adds bills feature to tap India's UPI craze economictimes.indiatimes.com
