Bharti Airtel shares in focus as Airtel Money gets RBI NBFC licence

Airtel Money Achieves Major Regulatory Milestone

Bharti Airtel announced that its subsidiary Airtel Money has secured a Certificate of Registration from the Reserve Bank of India to operate as a Type II Non-Deposit Accepting Non-Banking Financial Company. The certificate, issued on February 13, 2026, was granted under Section 45-IA of the RBI Act, 1934, with Registration Number N-14.03676. This regulatory approval marks a significant development for the fintech arm of India's leading telecommunications company, enabling it to expand its financial services operations within a clearly defined regulatory framework.

This authorization permits Airtel Money to commence business as a non-banking financial institution without accepting public deposits, subject to conditions prescribed by the RBI. The approval comes as Bharti Airtel continues to strengthen its presence across multiple business verticals, leveraging its extensive customer base of over 600 million users across 15 countries in India and Africa.

Understanding the Type II NBFC Classification

A Type II NBFC represents a specific category of non-banking financial companies regulated by the RBI that operate without accepting deposits from the general public. This classification allows financial institutions to offer various lending and investment services while maintaining a clear regulatory oversight structure. For Airtel Money, this designation opens pathways to engage in activities such as providing credit facilities, facilitating financial transactions, and offering other non-banking financial services to its customer base.

The regulatory framework governing Type II NBFCs ensures consumer protection and financial system stability while allowing fintech platforms to operate with greater flexibility compared to deposit-taking institutions. This balanced approach enables companies like Airtel Money to innovate in the financial services space while adhering to prudential guidelines established by the RBI.

Market Response and Broader Implications

Following the announcement of this regulatory approval, Bharti Airtel shares reflected modest market movement, with the stock trading near previous closing levels. This regulatory achievement positions Airtel Money to compete more effectively in India's rapidly evolving financial services landscape, where digital payments and lending have become increasingly important to both consumers and businesses.

The approval demonstrates RBI's confidence in Airtel Money's operational framework and governance standards. However, as is standard practice, the RBI issued a regulatory disclaimer clarifying that it does not undertake responsibility or guarantee regarding the financial soundness of the company, the correctness of any statements made by it, or the repayment of deposits and discharge of liabilities.

The RBI does not accept any responsibility or guarantee about the present position as to the financial soundness of the company or for the correctness of any of the statements or representations made or opinions expressed by the company and for the repayment of deposits or discharge of liabilities by the company.

Strategic Growth Amidst Strong Operational Performance

Airtel Money's regulatory approval arrives at a time when Bharti Airtel is demonstrating solid operational momentum. In the third quarter of fiscal year 2026, the telecom giant reported consolidated revenue of Rs 53,981.6 crore, reflecting a 19.62 percent increase compared to the corresponding quarter in the previous year. EBITDA margins improved to 57 percent, highlighting the company's operational efficiency across its diverse business segments.

The company has also been actively pursuing strategic partnerships to strengthen its technological capabilities and service offerings. Recent collaborations include partnerships with Google to establish India's first AI hub in Visakhapatnam and with IBM to enhance Airtel Cloud for artificial intelligence workloads. These initiatives, combined with Airtel Money's expanded regulatory permissions, suggest a comprehensive strategy to position Bharti Airtel as a technology-enabled integrated communications and financial services provider.

This regulatory milestone for Airtel Money reflects the growing convergence between telecommunications and financial services in India's digital economy. As telecom operators increasingly diversify into fintech, regulatory approvals such as this enable them to leverage their extensive customer relationships and digital infrastructure to offer comprehensive financial solutions. For Bharti Airtel, the NBFC license represents an important step in building a more diversified revenue base while meeting evolving customer needs in an increasingly digital financial landscape.