Bharti Airtel to Invest ₹20,000 Crore to Expand Digital Lending via Airtel Money NBFC

Mumbai, February 23: Bharti Airtel on Monday announced plans to invest ₹20,000 crore over the next few years to scale up its digital lending operations through its Non Banking Financial Company subsidiary, Airtel Money Limited.

The capital infusion signals a major push by the telecom major into India’s rapidly expanding financial services sector, as it seeks to address the country’s widening credit gap through technology driven lending.

Investment Structure and Capital Allocation​

Under the proposed ₹20,000 crore investment plan, Bharti Airtel will contribute 70 per cent of the total capital. The remaining 30 per cent will be infused by the promoter group through Bharti Enterprises Limited.

The phased investment is aimed at strengthening the company’s balance sheet, supporting loan book expansion, and building long term capabilities in digital credit delivery.

RBI Grants NBFC License to Airtel Money​

Airtel Money Limited recently received its NBFC license from the Reserve Bank of India on February 13, 2026. The approval allows the company to operate as a regulated non banking financial institution under the provisions of the RBI Act.

The company clarified that while it holds a valid certificate of registration from the central bank, the RBI does not guarantee the financial soundness of the company or the repayment of its liabilities, in line with regulatory requirements.

Building a Scalable Digital Lending Platform​

Over the past two years, Airtel has built a digital lending platform that has already disbursed more than ₹9,000 crore in loans. The company stated that its lending service provider model has delivered strong growth, supported by disciplined underwriting, portfolio management, and real time risk monitoring.

According to the company, its digital infrastructure is powered by a data and analytics engine supported by more than 500 data scientists. This technology backbone has enabled rapid scaling while maintaining healthy loan performance metrics.

Strategic Focus on Financial Inclusion​

Gopal Vittal, Executive Vice Chairman of Bharti Airtel, said the performance of the company’s lending platform demonstrates its ability to combine technology, data, and customer trust at scale.

He stated that the NBFC expansion reflects the company’s ambition to build a differentiated and future ready digital lending business centered on trust, innovation, and financial inclusion.

With the ₹20,000 crore investment commitment, Bharti Airtel is positioning its financial services arm as a key growth pillar alongside its core telecom operations, deepening its presence in India’s digital financial ecosystem.