Flipkart Gets Direct Lending Approval from RBI, Becomes First Indian E-commerce Firm with NBFC License

Flipkart has officially received permission to give loans directly to its customers and sellers. According to Reuters, the company confirmed it has received a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) license from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). This Flipkart direct lending approval makes it the first large e-commerce company in India to get such a license.

Until now, Flipkart offered loans through its partners like Axis Bank, IDFC Bank, and Credit Saison. But with this new license, Flipkart can lend money on its own. This gives the company more control over the process and could help increase its earnings.

Flipkart Gets NBFC License for Lending

Flipkart received its NBFC license under the name Flipkart Finance Private Limited on March 13, 2025. This license allows Flipkart to lend money directly but not accept deposits like banks do. Reuters reviewed both the official certificate and the approval letter from the RBI.

A Flipkart spokesperson confirmed the news, “Yes, Flipkart has received the NBFC license. We are working on launching the service soon.”

This is an important milestone for Walmart-backed Flipkart, India’s biggest e-commerce platform. The company had applied for the license in 2022. Now, with the license approved, it is getting ready to launch lending services through its fintech app called super.money. Flipkart plans to offer loans to both customers shopping on its website and sellers who need funds for their business.

A person familiar with the matter said, “Flipkart may commence its lending business in a few months. Internal steps like hiring key management personnel and finalising business plans are in progress.”

Right now, Flipkart offers personal loans to users through its partnerships with banks. These tie-ups will likely continue even after Flipkart starts lending on its own. However, with the Flipkart NBFC license, the company will have more freedom and flexibility in how it offers credit.

Walmart’s India Expansion and Flipkart’s Future Plans

Walmart is expanding its business in India through Flipkart. The U.S. retail giant bought a majority share in Flipkart back in 2018 and now owns more than 80% of the company. Flipkart was last valued at $37 billion in 2024 after raising $1 billion in a funding round led by Walmart.

As part of its long-term strategy, Walmart is moving Flipkart’s holding company from Singapore to India. This shift is part of a bigger plan to list Flipkart publicly in India. Flipkart’s loan license is expected to boost the company’s financial services and make it stronger ahead of the IPO.

Flipkart started its fintech journey years ago when it owned the digital payments app PhonePe, which has now become a separate company. Flipkart is now building its financial platform, super.money, where it plans to offer different financial products, starting with direct loans.

The company is currently working to strengthen its team by hiring key leaders and board members. These steps must be completed before launching the lending service.

As one source said, “A final decision on the launch will depend on completing internal processes like hiring and business planning.”

With this NBFC license, Flipkart is entering a new phase. Direct lending can help the platform offer better services to customers, attract more sellers, and grow its revenue. It also puts Flipkart ahead of its rivals in the growing e-commerce and fintech markets.