ONLINE SAFETY / LOAN APPS
How to check whether a loan app is genuine.
Searching for an “RBI approved loan app”? Verify the lender and exact app identity. A directory listing is not a recommendation to borrow.
1. Identify the organisation offering the loan
Record the bank or NBFC named in the app and loan documents. A developer, intermediary and lender may be different organisations. Look for consistent legal names, contact details and an official lender website rather than relying on an icon.
2. Start from the official RBI website
Navigate from RBI’s official website to its digital lending app directory and lender information. Compare the exact app details and named regulated entity. Do not search only for a familiar brand name: a similar name can refer to a different app.
RBI’s 8 May 2025 announcement describes the directory as lender-submitted information published without further RBI validation. Inclusion is not RBI endorsement.
3. Cross-check with the lender
Open the lender’s website independently and confirm the relationship with the app. Compare website addresses and app-store links. If something does not match, pause and ask the lender through its published contact channel.
4. Read the terms before accepting
Find the Key Facts Statement and compare the annual percentage rate, repayment schedule, charges and grievance contact. Save a copy of what you are agreeing to. Do not share an OTP, PIN or password with someone claiming to speed up approval.
5. Review permissions and payment requests
Pause if the purpose of a requested permission is unclear. Be wary of pressure to sideload an app, pay an unknown individual or transfer an advance amount to unlock a promised loan. A positive app-store review is not independent confirmation of lender identity.
If something has gone wrong
Preserve the app name, developer, lender details, messages and transaction references. Contact the lender and your bank through official channels. For suspected cybercrime, use the official reporting portal. Do not publish identity documents in a public review or complaint post.
Common questions
Does a listing guarantee safe borrowing?
No. It does not replace checking the terms, your repayment capacity and the exact counterparty.
What if I cannot find the app?
Pause. Recheck the exact name and lender through official sources. An inconclusive lookup is not a reason to proceed with a sensitive application.
Continue with our shopping website checklist. This is general consumer awareness, not personalised financial advice.