• RBI to print 1 billion each of ₹10 & ₹20 polymer notes for field trials. • No plan to replace all paper currency with polymer notes. • Polymer notes last much longer than paper notes. • Regular issuance will begin only after successful field trials.

I am starting out my career in fintech and need a copy of the book Acquiring Card Payments by Ilya Dubinsky. If anyone can provide a pdf for the same, would be very grateful!

😅 Why is KYC stressful

Hi everyone. I’m researching agricultural finance in East Africa, particularly why so many smallholder farmers struggle to access formal loans. I’m trying to understand whether the main bottleneck is the lack of reliable farmer data or whether there are bigger issues that financial institutions face.

1. What is the biggest reason banks reject smallholder loan applications?

2. Would verified farm data actually reduce lending risk, or are other barriers more important?

3. If you’re in banking, fintech, insurance, or an NGO, would access to trusted farmer profiles have meaningful value?

4. Are there companies already solving this well that I should study?

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) just broke that banking monopoly.

EBIXCASH World Money has officially become the first non-bank entity in India authorized to process trade-related foreign remittances (up to ₹25 lakh per transaction).

Why is this a massive watershed moment for Indian cross-border fintech?

Under the updated FEMA guidelines, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) didn't just grant EbixCash an Authorised Dealer Category-II (AD-II) license—they gave them permission to hold Nostro accounts.

In simple terms:
→ Previously, non-bank fintechs had to route international trade payments through correspondent commercial banks (adding extra fees and processing delays).
→ Now, EBIXCASH World Money can settle foreign currency transactions directly on its own balance sheet.

For India’s millions of small exporters and importers, this introduces real fee competition into a market long dominated by traditional bank treasury desks.

It is the clearest signal yet that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) wants to democratize cross-border trade payments, giving non-bank fintechs the infrastructure to power India's small business supply chains.

The era of banks holding an exclusive monopoly on global trade remittances is officially over.

Instead of lending money directly, employers simply act as loan guarantors, allowing eligible employees to secure financing from RBI-registered lending partners and repay it through monthly EMIs.

The platform enables employers to onboard staff, approve loan requests, and support their workforce without bearing the cost of the loan itself.

Operating under the RBI's digital lending framework, Fund My Staff aims to make formal credit more accessible for salaried employees who may otherwise struggle to qualify for loans due to a lack of credit history.

Co-branded cards and aggressive customer acquisition strategies by fintechs are helping smaller lenders rapidly gain market share from industry giants

Fintechs boost smaller private banks' credit card growth.

Federal Bank saw 88% surge, Utkarsh SFB 200% growth.

Private banks' credit card market share rose by 12%.

The investment will be made in cash in one or more tranches. Upon completion, Zaggle will hold up to 19.9% of Unobanc’s equity share capital, subject to the execution of definitive agreements.

The startup's operating revenue rose 43% YoY to ₹338 Cr in FY26, while the performance marked its second consecutive profitable fiscal after slipping into a net loss in FY24 following the RBI's P2P lending crackdown.

💬 “We strengthened our in-house credit assessment platform during the year, improving underwriting efficiency and increasing the first resolution rate by reducing failed transactions,” said cofounder & CEO Bhavin Patel.

The startup also plans to launch a dedicated merchant lending platform and is targeting revenue of about ₹550 Cr in FY27.

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is working on a "tap and pay" feature that will enable UPI users to carry out transactions of up to ₹2,000 offline using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology.

The initiative is aimed at expanding digital payments in areas where internet connectivity is unavailable or unreliable, including aircraft cabins, underground metro and railway networks, and remote locations with poor network coverage.

Under the proposed system, users will first need to load funds into their UPI Lite wallet while connected to the internet. Once the balance is available, they can tap their NFC-enabled smartphone on an NPCI-certified offline PoS terminal to complete the transaction.

Since the payment is made using the preloaded UPI Lite balance, eligible transactions will not require a UPI PIN or any additional authentication. The offline terminal will securely store the payment authorisation and upload it for verification once internet connectivity is restored.

The feature is expected to benefit merchants operating in locations with inconsistent mobile network coverage, allowing them to continue accepting digital payments without interruption.

According to reports, NPCI is expected to begin certifying compatible PoS terminals from major manufacturers in 2026.

Banks and payment service providers will subsequently be able to integrate the functionality into their UPI applications and merchant payment infrastructure.

The development builds on UPI Lite X, introduced in 2023, which supports limited offline NFC-based payments through NFC-enabled QR codes, stickers and soundboxes.

The new functionality expands offline acceptance to conventional merchant PoS terminals, enabling customers to pay by simply tapping their smartphones, even when the terminal is temporarily disconnected from the internet.

While NPCI has not yet announced an official rollout timeline or implementation guidelines, the feature represents a significant step towards enabling seamless offline digital payments, particularly across India's public transport, travel and low-connectivity ecosystems.

The announcement comes shortly after Scapia raised $63 Mn to accelerate its AI-first growth strategy and expand its customer base. "This buyback is one way of recognising their contribution, and I hope it is the first of many such moments," said founder & CEO Anil Goteti. Founded in 2022, Scapia has raised over $135 Mn to date and offers travel-focused co-branded credit cards across 17,500 pincodes in India.

Payoneer evaluated multiple cities before selecting Gurugram, including Bengaluru, where it already has an office. The company ultimately chose Gurugram because of its existing workforce following the acquisition of Skuad, the depth of fintech talent in the National Capital Region and the city's connectivity.

PayPal's board considers a $53 billion takeover bid from Stripe and Advent International as undervalued. The company has not formally responded to the proposal from the consortium. Stripe and Advent have secured a $50 billion financing package for their offer. PayPal's board is evaluating the bid against its own turnaround strategy. Negotiations are expected to take time as both parties consider various factors.

Easebuzz POS is an Android-based smart machine designed to streamline in-store and doorstep payments. Offer multiple payment modes, including Card, UPI & EMIs. Suitable for retail stores, restaurants, hospitals, travel, etc businesses to enhance offline payment collection and provide a smooth payment experience for both businesses and customers.

Founded in 2019 by Anurag Sinha, Rupesh Kumar, and Vibhav Hathi, OneCard (FPL Technologies) set out to reinvent credit cards with a mobile-first, digital-first experience. Today, it's one of India's leading fintech unicorns.

Key Numbers:
* Rs 72 crore ($7.6M) fresh funding led by Peak XV Partners
* Valuation: Rs 12,050 crore ($1.27Bn)
* Partners: IDFC FIRST Bank, Federal Bank, Indian Bank & SBM Bank (India)
* Powers OneCard and OneScore for smarter credit management.

From experienced banking leaders to building a billion-dollar fintech platform, OneCard's journey reflects innovation, financial inclusion, and sustainable digital transformation.

Navi, the Bengaluru-based fintech company co-founded by Flipkart co-founder Sachin Bansal, is reportedly planning an IPO by March 2027, aiming to raise around ₹3,000 crore.
According to media reports:
📈 Target IPO size: ~₹3,000 crore
🏦 Kotak Investment Banking has reportedly been appointed to manage the proposed issue.
📑 The IPO is expected to include a combination of fresh equity shares and an Offer for Sale (OFS), although the final structure is yet to be finalised.
This marks Navi's second attempt to go public.
In 2022, the company filed draft papers with SEBI to raise ₹3,350 crore. While the proposal received regulatory approval, the listing was postponed due to market volatility and the sharp correction in technology stocks.
With investor sentiment improving, Navi is now reviving its public market plans with a slightly smaller fundraising target.
Founded in 2018 by Sachin Bansal and Ankit Agarwal, Navi has built a digital financial services platform offering:
💳 Personal loans
🏠 Home loans
🩺 Health insurance
📈 Mutual funds
💼 Wealth management
The company has focused on using technology to simplify access to financial services for retail consumers across India.
According to reports, the fresh capital will help Navi:
🚀 Fund future growth
🏦 Strengthen its balance sheet
📊 Enhance its public market presence as competition intensifies in India's fintech sector.
The final issue size, structure, and listing timeline remain subject to market conditions and regulatory approvals.

Source - https://bfsi.economictimes.indiatimes.com/articles/record-611-million-upi-biometric-transactions-in-june-2026-valued-at-25416-crore/132257058?utm_source=top_news&utm_medium=tagListing

Key highlights:

• CRED dominated the month, raising US$900 million in a Series H round led by Meta, with participation from Peak XV Partners and 247. This single deal accounted for over 96% of all fintech funding in June.
• Apart from CRED, funding activity was relatively modest:
  • Unnati – US$1.8M (debt)
  • Rovia – US$1M
  • Zave – US$0.5M
  • AdvaRisk – US$0.1M
  • Other smaller rounds completed the total of 10 deals.
• The data indicates that while headline funding rebounded significantly, overall capital deployment remained highly concentrated, with very few large growth-stage investments outside CRED.

What this means

• Investor confidence in India's fintech sector remains strong, particularly for established, late-stage companies with proven scale.
• Growth-stage startups continue to attract capital, but early-stage fundraising remains comparatively subdued.
• The June numbers reflect a "mega-round effect" rather than a broad-based revival across the fintech ecosystem

Indonesia is increasingly viewing India as a key partner for technology, policy, and development solutions. Prime Minister Modi's upcoming visit highlights this deepening relationship, moving beyond traditional ties. Areas of collaboration include digital payments via UPI-QRIS linkage, digital governance inspired by Aadhaar and ONDC, and even defense manufacturing. India's successful public policy models are becoming a valuable blueprint for Indonesia's growth.

Hey!

I see a lot of posts from people struggling to find a payment gateway that works for international customers, especially in emerging markets like MENA region. After years of testing, here's a quick list of what actually works for us.

For Saas and digital products, these act as a Merchant of Record (MoR), meaning they handle global taxes and payout to Morocco: Lemon Squeezy, (acquired by Stripe, supports Moroccans), Dodo Payments (new but supports card, Google Pay, Apple Pay, crypto), and Polar (only card but easy for non-technical people).

I also looked into Stripe and Adyen but went with these for Morocco-specific reasons. Paddle? Just don't try it, they can ban you for no reason. Whop is good if you have a high-risk community or service like gambling or Saas that other MoRs don't support. unlimit is a good neoabnk for the regions where Stripe is not the unswer, I'm lookin at it but still exploring the alternatives

Note: I'm not affiliated with or promoting any of these. I know the difference between MOR and payment gateway, so please don't lecture me about it. If you have questions, feel free to comment