Bajaj Finance Ltd is set to expand its customer base significantly through a strategic partnership with telecom giant Bharti Airtel, aiming to tap into an additional addressable market of 200 million users for its financial products. The move is part of Bajaj Finance’s broader strategy to leverage digital ecosystems to grow across India.
The company said in the post-Q3 earnings investor call that it estimates that the tie-up with Airtel will provide access to a fresh market segment distinct from its existing 97 million customers. While Airtel has a total subscriber base of approximately 375 million, Bajaj Finance is focusing on a subset of 200 million non-overlapping users who fit its credit and product profiles.
As part of this collaboration, Bajaj Finance will initially roll out nine financial products on Airtel’s platforms, including the Airtel Thanks App and Airtel’s retail store network. The products include personal loans, business loans, gold loans, two-wheeler loans, EMI cards, and trading and investment products.
According to the company’s investor presentation, two of these products have already been piloted on the Airtel Thanks App, and by March 2025, all nine products will be available. The partnership will also enable Airtel’s vast retail presence to serve as a key distribution point for Bajaj Finance’s offerings.
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Bajaj Finance has positioned this tie-up as a digital-first expansion strategy, capitalising on Airtel’s deeply engaged customer base, advanced mobile technology infrastructure, and extensive retail presence. This move is expected to significantly enhance penetration of digital lending solutions and retail credit in India, the company said.
Strong growth momentum backing the expansion
This development comes at a time when Bajaj Finance has reported strong Q3 FY25 results, with consolidated net profit rising 18 percent year-on-year to Rs 4,308 crore and assets under management (AUM) growing 28 percent to Rs 3.98 lakh crore. The company recorded its highest-ever quarterly increase in customer franchise, adding 5.03 million new customers during the quarter.
Bajaj Finance has been expanding aggressively, with a record 12.06 million new loans disbursed in Q3 FY25, with a 22 percent year-on-year growth. Additionally, the lender has strengthened its digital and offline distribution network, adding 14 new locations and 8,900 distribution points during the quarter.
The Airtel partnership is expected to further streamline loan origination and expand Bajaj Finance’s digital lending footprint. By leveraging Airtel’s vast ecosystem, the company aims to accelerate loan disbursals, deepen customer engagement, and expand financial inclusion efforts.
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