Walmart’s Flipkart has obtained a lending licence from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), allowing the e-commerce platform to provide loans directly to its customers and sellers.
This development marks the first instance of the RBI granting a non-banking finance company (NBFC) licence to an e-commerce entity in India, as confirmed by a company spokesperson following a report by Reuters.
Go deeper with GlobalData
The RBI issued the certificate of registration to Flipkart Finance Private Limited, a document that officially recognises the company as an NBFC.
According to the RBI’s approval letter, Flipkart submitted its application for the licence in 2022. The RBI has not yet responded to requests for comments regarding this matter.
A source familiar with the situation indicated that Flipkart may begin its lending operations “in a few months,” although this timeline is contingent upon the completion of internal processes, including the appointment of key management personnel and the finalisation of business strategies.
The licence enables Flipkart to engage in lending activities, although it is not permitted to accept deposits.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataFlipkart intends to provide loans directly through its e-commerce platform and its fintech application, super.money.
Additionally, the company may extend financing options to sellers using its platform.
Currently, Flipkart collaborates with lenders such as Axis Bank, IDFC Bank, and Credit Saison to offer personal loans to customers.
Valued at $37bn in 2024 after raising $1bn in a funding round led by Walmart, Flipkart is in the process of relocating its holding company from Singapore to India.
Walmart acquired a controlling interest in Flipkart in 2018, which also included ownership of PhonePe, a fintech company that is preparing for an initial public offering (IPO).
