Paisabazaar launches Step Up Credit Card for consumers with limited access to formal credit

Paisabazaar launches Step Up Credit Card for consumers with limited access to formal credit

• By Staff Writer

Paisabazaar launches Step Up Credit Card for consumers with limited access to formal credit

Paisabazaar.com, India’s leading lending marketplace and credit score platform, and SBM Bank India today announced the launch of Step Up Credit Card – a credit-builder product designed for consumers with limited access to formal credit, due to ineligible credit score.

A key part of Paisabazaar’s long-term growth strategy is building neo-lending products with partners, to meet specific consumer need gaps. These products would drive inclusiveness, by enabling underserved segments to access credit and over the long term, strengthen the lending ecosystem.

A secured card provided against a fixed deposit (with SBM Bank India), Step Up Card helps consumers with damaged credit or those with no credit history to steadily build their Credit Score. While responsible use of Step Up Credit Card enables consumers to reach a strong Credit Score, it also allows them to enjoy the benefits of a credit card, and earn strong returns on their fixed deposit.

Commenting on the same, Neeraj Sinha, Head, Retail & Consumer Banking, SBM Bank India, said, “At SBM Bank India, we believe smart banking – is a combination of technology and banking as a service — solves problems and empowers people. In India, the penetration of credit cards is low owing to lack of credit history and high delinquencies. We partnered with Paisabazaar to design a product that solved both these challenges – backed by a fixed deposit, it not only protects the quality of the assets but also helps build the credit score. We conducted a pilot program which witnessed great results and today we are launching the card for everyone.”

Consumers can take the Step Up Credit Card on the Paisabazaar platform through a completely digital and paperless process, with instant issuance and activation. Paisabazaar and SBM Bank India are also creating a program that would enable revisions in credit limit, based on consumer usage and behavior through the Step Up Credit Card.

Low penetration of formal credit in India is reflected in the country’s household debt to GDP ratio, which is significantly lower than that of developed markets like the UK and the US. This is primarily because large segments of India’s population have remained outside the realm of formal credit. While segments like Salaried Prime have been traditionally served well by large banks and NBFCs, other large segments like Salaried Sub-Prime, New to Credit, and SMEs have had limited access to formal credit.

The penetration of credit cards, for instance, is dwindling at ~5%, with only ~60 million active credit cards in the country, as per RBI data. According to an analysis by Paisabazaar, only ~25%-30% of those who apply for a credit card in India are able to get one. Around 30% of rejections for credit cards by banks are due to ineligible credit scores.

Naveen Kukreja, CEO & Co-founder, Paisabazaar.com, said, “For India’s leading industry, the big challenge remains market under-penetration. Even today, credit is restricted to only select consumer segments. At Paisabazaar, we are uniquely placed to expand the reach of formal credit, together with our partners. The Step Up Card, created with SBM Bank India, is a testimony to our commitment to serving underserved customer segments.”

Paisabazaar’s neo-lending products, like the Step Up Credit Card, are specifically targeted at these large segments, with the aim to make them more credit healthy and strengthen their eligibility for future needs. With 100% approval rates, segments who traditionally struggle to get a credit card due to employment type or geography would also be able to use the Step Up Credit Card and get the benefits of a credit card.

Under its neo-lending strategy, Paisabazaar plans to co-create and introduce innovative products that would meet specific need gaps of varied consumer segments.

Gaurav Aggarwal, Senior Director, Paisabazaar.com, said, “Along with catering to the needs of underserved segments, ownership of processes and products would help us offer a great consumer experience. Also, data related to usage and behavior would provide key insights and intelligence, enabling us to identify consumer needs more accurately, fostering further innovations.”

Disclaimer:-  As every caution has been taken to provide our readers with the most accurate information and honest analysis. Please check the pros and cons of the same before making any decision on the basis of the shared details.

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