Flipkart has made history by becoming the first Indian e-commerce company to secure a non-banking financial company (NBFC) licence from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The Walmart-owned platform confirmed on Thursday that it received the regulatory approval in March this year.

This marks a major shift in India’s digital lending landscape, as Flipkart will now be able to offer loans directly to its customers—a first for an Indian online marketplace. Until now, e-commerce platforms have relied on partnerships with banks or NBFCs to provide credit options such as EMIs. The new licence allows Flipkart to bypass intermediaries and enter the lending space independently, although it is not permitted to take deposits.

Sources say the move opens doors for Flipkart to offer consumer loans on its platform as well as through its fintech arm, super.money. It could also enable credit offerings for sellers using Flipkart's marketplace.

The central bank issued its official certificate of registration for Flipkart Finance Private Limited on March 13. While the exact launch timeline is not finalised, internal processes such as appointment of leadership and business planning are currently underway.

Flipkart, which is eyeing a public listing, was last valued at $37 billion in 2024 after a Walmart-led $1 billion funding round. The company recently announced plans to shift its holding entity from Singapore to India—part of a strategic realignment signalling deeper roots in the domestic economy.

This move reflects our commitment to India’s remarkable growth and digital transformation journey, a Flipkart spokesperson said earlier in April, citing the government's initiatives that have improved the business climate.

The company currently facilitates personal loans via third-party lenders like Axis Bank, IDFC Bank and Credit Saison. The NBFC licence is expected to help Flipkart enhance its margins and customer experience through in-house credit services.

Interestingly, rival Amazon also entered the lending space by acquiring Bengaluru-based NBFC Axio, but the deal is still pending RBI clearance—making Flipkart the first in the sector to cross this regulatory milestone.