IDFC First Bank partners with Crunchfish for RBI's offline payments pilot

IDFC First Bank has announced a collaboration with Swedish fintech firm Crunchfish to participate in the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) pilot programme for offline payments. This initiative aims to facilitate digital payments even when there is no network available. The programme is part of the RBI's Regulatory Sandbox Program, which encourages innovation in the fintech sector by allowing firms to test their products in a controlled environment.

Crunchfish's digital payment system for merchants and customers is a unique one that uses a Digital Cash platform to enable offline retail payments in India's payment ecosystem. The RBI has authorised the proposal to demonstrate offline payments between two banks, and IDFC First Bank will be one of the first few banks to participate in HDFC Bank's pilot initiative.

The signing of the Development and Demonstration Agreement between IDFC First Bank and Crunchfish gives IDFC First Bank access to the Digital Cash Software Development Kit (SDK). This is a non-commercial agreement, and a Software

License Agreement will govern the commercial parameters of installation.

The Digital Cash SDK is a platform that enables merchants to accept digital payments even when there is no network available. This means that even in areas where there is no internet connectivity, merchants can still accept digital payments, making it easier for customers to pay for goods and services. This system will be particularly useful in rural areas, where network connectivity can be a challenge.

The Digital Cash platform works by creating a temporary, virtual wallet on the customer's device. When the customer wants to make a payment, the merchant's device generates a unique QR code, which the customer scans with their device to initiate the payment. The payment is then processed using the temporary virtual wallet on the customer's device. This enables digital payments to be processed even when there is no network available.

The system is designed to be simple, secure and fast, making it an ideal solution for merchants and

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who want to make digital payments. It also eliminates the need for point-of-sale (POS) terminals, which can be expensive and require a network connection to function.

The RBI's pilot programme for offline payments is part of its efforts to promote digital payments and reduce the use of cash in the economy. India has been at the forefront of the global shift towards digital payments, and the government has launched several initiatives to promote digital payments in the country. The demonetisation drive in 2016, which removed high-value banknotes from circulation, was a significant step towards promoting digital payments in India.

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the shift towards digital payments, as more people are avoiding cash transactions to minimise the risk of infection. This has led to an increase in demand for digital payment solutions, and fintech firms have been quick to respond with innovative products and services.

IDFC First Bank's partnership with Crunchfish is an excellent example of how banks and fintech firms

can collaborate to develop innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of customers. The partnership will help IDFC First Bank expand its digital payment offerings and reach more customers across the country. It also underscores the importance of innovation in the banking sector and the role that fintech firms can play in driving this innovation.

IDFC First Bank's participation in the RBI's pilot programme for offline payments is an important development in the Indian fintech sector. The programme has the potential to revolutionise the way digital payments are made in India, and the partnership between IDFC First Bank and Crunchfish is an excellent example of how collaboration between banks and fintech firms can drive innovation in the sector. The success of the programme will depend on how well it is implemented and how quickly it is adopted by merchants and customers. However, given the increasing demand for digital payment solutions in India, there is reason to be optimistic about the programme's prospects.