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How to setup WhatsApp payment feature on your phone

WhatsApp was launched in 2009 and acquired by Facebook in 2014 and ever since has been downloaded by an unimaginable 5 Billion number of times on Google play store alone and has more than 2 Billion users worldwide (as stated by WhatsApp on 12th February 2020: visit their website). In India WhatsApp has solely enmassed 400 Million users, making it the largest market for the communication giant.

Recently the app rolled out its payments service in India on November 6. The CEO Mark Zuckerberg told media that he was excited for this new journey as it facilitates small businesses and growing economy. The app promises secure payment options and claims that transferring money can be as simple as sending a message.

The company has partnered with National payments Corporation of India (NPCI) using the BHIM Unified Payment Interface (UPI), which supports over 160 banks and allows the users to make real-time payments.

To make use of this facility a user has to own a bank account and debit card that facilitates payments in India. Status of transfers and past transactions can be viewed in the payment settings section of the app.

WhatsApp has introduced a personal UPI PIN for every payment made through the app which is an added advantage.

Currently the partnership begins with 5 leading banks like HDFC, AXIS bank, ICICI, State Bank of India (SBI) and Jio Payments Bank.

To setup payments facility in WhatsApp on your mobile phone start with adding your bank account for which you will need an active account that supports UPI payments.

The phone number linked to the UPI must match the phone number on which the app operates at the moment.

Steps to setup Payments Options on your phone:

  1. Go to Settings -> Payments -> Add new account.
  2.  Accept the Payments Terms and Privacy Policy request.
  3. Select the name of your bank from the listed banks.
  4. Verify by SMS and grant permission to the app to make and manage phone calls.
  5. Select the bank that you want to make transfers between, say sending or receiving payments.
  6. Proceed with Done.

Additional conditions for facilitating WhatsApp payments on your phone

  • WhatsApp also requests access to the last 6 digits of your debit card along with its expiration date.
  • Currently the app supports only a few banks so it is likely that you may not find your bank in the list.
  • Update to the latest version of the app form the Play store or the website.

Sending and receiving payments through WhatsApp might make it easy for the users on top of which the app also claims strong security and privacy options, so in future it is expected that more users will be benefited by this feature.

This feature is currently available to 20 million users in India. It will gradually continue to roll out to all the users in the upcoming days, with more banks in partnership and updated features.

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