PSU banks counting on QR-based payments to breach a fintech fort

Core Insights - Public sector banks (PSBs) are increasingly entering the QR-code led merchant payments space, aiming to compete with fintech companies like BharatPe, PhonePe, and Paytm [15] - This shift in strategy is driven by the revenue opportunities in the small merchant ecosystem and the dominance of UPI payments [2][15] - Banks are focusing on building direct relationships with merchants and enhancing their payment platforms with features like instant onboarding and on-demand settlement [10][15] Industry Trends - The Reserve Bank of India reports approximately 728 million QR codes deployed in the country, compared to only 11 million POS terminals, indicating a significant market potential [7] - Industry estimates suggest there are around 30 million soundbox terminals in India, further highlighting the growth opportunities in the small merchant payment sector [7] - Paytm has disclosed quarterly disbursals of around ₹4,500 crore for merchants, with a significant portion of transactions driven by UPI QR code-based payments [8][9] Competitive Landscape - Players like Worldline are collaborating with banks to provide technology stacks and backend settlements, enabling a comprehensive payment service for small merchants [5][15] - Banks are motivated by the low cost of deploying payment solutions and the potential for data and lending opportunities in this market [6][15] - The entry of banks into the small merchant payment business may lead to competition with fintechs, although industry insiders believe this conflict may not be immediate [12][15]