Addressing a press conference in Chennai on Tuesday, Lalitha said that the company would roll out the new UPI Circle feature for all users by next Monday, in time for Diwali. Currently available to a limited group, UPI Circle enables users to set recurring payments for family members or dependents, with monthly limits ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000. The feature also lets users approve each payment before it is processed. “It empowers people to allow their family to use their account securely,” she said.
The app has also introduced biometric confirmation using fingerprint or facial authentication to authorise payments instead of PINs or OTPs. This is aimed at improving convenience and reducing risks of OTP compromise.
The BHIM app currently records 45–50 lakh daily transactions, with monthly averages rising from 25 million to 38 million. The average transaction value in September was Rs 1700, resulting in total transactions worth Rs 15,000 crore for the month. The app’s market share has increased from 0.18 per cent to 0.65 per cent. Lalitha said that the priority of NBSL was to maintain stability and user trust rather than chase numbers.
NBSL plans to introduce digital gold and gift cards in the next financial year and is exploring secured credit cards to help first-time users build credit scores. It also aims to integrate BHIM features into partner banks’ mobile apps to expand reach and leverage the trust associated with banking channels.
Backed by its parent company, National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), NBSL continues to invest in AI, biometrics and voice-based technologies to enhance its performance. “We are a small, home-grown app and our focus remains on trust, simplicity, and innovation,” Lalitha said.
Under its “Payments with Purpose” Diwali campaign, NBSL will set aside funds to support women artisans for every 10 transactions completed on the app. “We want digital payments to create social value,” Lalitha said.
