Fintech platform CRED has introduced biometric authentication for UPI payments, allowing its members to authorise transactions using face recognition or fingerprint instead of a PIN. The feature went live on March 25, 2026, and is available on both iOS and Android devices.
The rollout covers transactions up to ₹5,000 and applies across all UPI use cases on the platform — including credit card bill payments, utility payments, merchant payments, scan and pay, peer-to-peer transfers, and balance checks. CRED said the change reduces the number of steps needed to complete a payment, lowering the incidence of failed or delayed transactions.
The feature has been built in partnership with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), which governs the UPI ecosystem. It is compliant with regulatory guidelines and uses the authentication method already set up on a user’s own device.
CRED positioned the move as a security upgrade, citing reduced risk from PIN exposure and fewer transaction errors caused by incorrect PIN entry. The biometric layer is intended to strengthen fraud protection while improving the overall payment experience.
CRED, which claims over 1.5 crore users, restricts membership to individuals with high credit scores. The platform offers credit card management, credit score tracking, and access to financial products alongside its payments infrastructure.
Published on March 26, 2026
