Airtel Bhim UPI

What is UPI? How does it work?

UPI stands for Unified Payment Interface (UPI). It enables money to be immediately transferred via a mobile phone from one bank account to another. Payments can only be rendered via supporting mobile phone apps. The cash transactions through UPI are available 24x7.

Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is a portal developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to facilitate interoperability between banks. This is a one-stop solution for using separate bank accounts to carry out transfers from a single app. It allows all account holders to send and receive money through their smartphones with a single identifier – the Virtual Payment Address (VPA) commonly known as the UPI ID – without needing to provide any bank account information.

Customers often do not need to know the IFSC code of the beneficiary or payer, bank account details, etc., and this allows the transaction to be quicker. So customers will make quicker transactions to their friends and merchants.

For the purpose of using UPI, you need to have a savings bank account with a member bank. Most banks are now permitting UPI transfers. You must then download the UPI support app for your mobile phone. Airtel Thanks App is the UPI app for Airtel Payments Bank. Some other popular apps that provide UPI payment are BHIM created by NPCI, and certain private companies such as Paytm, PhonePe, Google Pay, Amazon Pay, etc. Make sure you have your mobile number listed for authentication on your bank account.

Features of Airtel BHIM UPI

• It is available on both Google Play Store and Apple App Store for download.
• It can be linked with any bank account; it is not necessary for you to hold an account with Airtel Payments Bank.
• It is looped through BHIM UPI to provide a seamless payment process.
• Completely powered by UPI and hence does not require you to enter bank account details or IFSC code of the beneficiary.
• Send and receive money 24x7, 365 days.
• Simple one step authentication through Aadhaar e-KYC.

How to get started with Airtel BHIM UPI?

Airtel BHIM UPI can be used on the Airtel Thanks app. It is available on both Google Play Store and Apple App Store. In order to use the Airtel BHIM UPI, you need to register for it on the Airtel Thanks App. Here is a step by step guide for registering on the Airtel Thanks App for Airtel BHIM UPI;

• First, link your bank accounts to the BHIM UPI app.
• Download and install the Airtel Thanks App.
• Register with the mobile number linked to your bank account.
• Once logged in, go to the ‘Banking’ section.
• You will be presented with a registration form to fill in your details for the e-wallet account.
• Once you have filled in these details, you will be allowed to link a bank account with this e-wallet.
• Airtel Payments Bank will send your phone a one-time SMS for verification.
• You can generate your Airtel Payments Bank UPI Virtual Payment Address (VPA) ID once your mobile number and device is verified. This can be unique, such as yourname@airtel.
• You will then be asked to add to the UPI a bank account. It could be your own Airtel Payment Bank or any other Indian bank that supports UPI Payments.
• You can then set the PIN number to secure your transactions.
• Once completing all these steps, you are set up with your Airtel BHIM UPI and you can start sending money and bill payments.
• Airtel BHIM UPI uses the BHIM UPI interface to carry out the transactions and hence it is necessary to link the bank accounts to the BHIM UPI interface in advance.

Benefits of using Airtel BHIM UPI

• The Airtel Thanks app allows customers to make payments at merchant locations using bank accounts that they have linked to the BHIM UPI interface.
• The authentication is a simple Aadhaar based e-KYC and hence gives instant access to start using the UPI facility.
• This facility enables more than 5 million merchants to accept payments through the UPI interface.
• Airtel offers attractive offers and benefits to customers using this facility to make fund transfers and bill payments.
• Set your own easy-to-remember ID for a seamless customer experience.
• Heightened security through mPIN facility
• Airtel Payment Banks customers, who have linked their savings bank account with BHIM UPI can conveniently start using this facility through the Airtel Thanks app.
• Make digital payments to both online and offline merchants.
• Enables instant money transfer to any bank account in India.

How to send money to family and friends through the Airtel BHIM UPI?

It is very simple to send money to your family and friends; 

• You can choose to send money to a phone number or a bank account. 
• Open the Airtel Thanks app
• Go to the Banking section
• Click on ‘Send Money’
• Select whether you want to send money using phone number or bank account number.
• Enter the relevant details, the correct amount and your PIN number, when prompted.
• The money transfer is done and both the parties will receive a confirmation message.
• The amount is directly debited from your bank account and credited to the beneficiary’s bank account.

How to complete mobile recharges or bill payments using Airtel BHIM UPI?

There are two ways to make mobile recharges or bill payments using Airtel BHIM UPI; you can do it on the merchant website or from the Airtel Thanks app.

On the Airtel Thanks App

• Open and login to the Airtel Thanks App
• Click on the ‘₹’ symbol at the bottom of the screen
• It will take you to the Recharges, Bill Payments and UPI payments screen
• Here, you can choose the merchant or biller to whom you need to make the payment
• Enter the amount, choose the bank account you want to pay from, and enter the security PIN to complete the transaction
• The transaction is completed and you receive a confirmation message
• These are the various ‘Recharges & Pay Bills’ options available on Paytm
• Prepaid Mobile Recharge
• Post-paid Mobile Bill Payments
• DTH Recharge
• Electricity Bill Payments
• Credit Card Bill Payments
• Piped Gas Bill
• Water Bill
• Apartments / Residential Associations Monthly Maintenance Payments
• Broadband Bill Payments
• Loan EMI Payments
• Insurance Premium Payments
• Data Card – Prepaid / Postpaid Bill Payments
• Cable TV Bill Payments
• Municipal Payments
• Traffic Penalty Challan Payments

From the merchant app or website

You can also make payments at the merchant app or website using Airtel BHIM UPI.

• Login to the merchant app or website where the payment is to be made
• Enter the bill amount and go to the payments page
• Here, you have to choose the UPI option
• Then, you will be asked to enter your Airtel BHIM UPI handle ID
• Some merchants even display the QR code for easy access
• Once you have entered your Airtel BHIM UPI handle, or scanned the QR Code using Airtel Thanks app, you will be required to enter your 6 digit authentication PIN
• Upon authentication, the payment will be processed

Current Offers on Airtel BHIM UPI

Airtel UPI Referral

Under this offer, you can invite your friends to join Airtel UPI and get rewarded for it. This is how it works;

• Download the Airtel Thanks app
• Go the the ‘Banking’ section
• Click on Refer & Earn
• You can select and send the special referral link to your friends
• They should use the link you send to create their own Airtel UPI and make a first transaction for a minimum sum of Rs.50
• Both of you are then rewarded Rs. 41 in your Airtel Money Wallet/Airtel Payments Bank Account

FAQs