SBI seeks fintech partners to help customers print their own debit cards
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Mumbai: India’s largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) is scouting for fintechs which can help it gain an edge over competitors with debt card solutions, including an option for customers to print their own cards at kiosks. The bank is looking to partner with fintechs who can provide services for these kiosks, allowing customers to upload photos or select from design templates, according to a document seen by Mint.
“Customers should also be able to set their PIN and manage basic card controls directly at the kiosk," said the document, calling fintechs to apply. It could not be immediately ascertained how these proposed kiosks would work. The bank's kiosks currently offer different services.
As on 31 March 2024, SBI had 20,135 barcode-based passbook printing kiosks at 17,663 branches, processing over 1 million daily transactions. It also had 2,496 cheque-deposit kiosks in FY24, according to its annual report. Also read | Mint Primer: How to read SBI’s latest poverty estimates SBI also wants fintechs to develop a progressive web app (PWA) through which customers can manage their debit cards.
PWAs are web-based applications that offer user experience of an app. Solutions on the kiosk and the web app are what the bank has classified as ‘desired’ under the proposed partnership. Some other aspects are also ‘mandatory’ under the potential alliance.
Queries emailed to SBI seeking comments remained unanswered. SBI’s seems to be charting a different course since most other banks are looking at tie-ups with fintechs to push lending, said experts. “A partnership on debit cards shows that State Bank of India (SBI) is pivoting to a new trend where it sees cards as a means of improving customer
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