The first comprehensive
mobile banking solution for feature phones
Mumbai : Bank of Baroda and Reliance Jio today announced a partnership
to launch bob World Lite, the
first comprehensive mobile banking app designed specifically for feature
phone users, on the JioPhone Prima 4G device. In line with the vision of
the Government of India and the Reserve Bank of India to promote inclusivity
and make digital payments accessible to feature phone users, this
industry-first initiative brings seamless and comprehensive digital banking
access to millions across the country. The app will be available to both
existing Bank of Baroda customers as well as customers of any other bank through
a simple and convenient self-onboarding process.
Unlike
conventional mobile banking apps that only work on smartphones, the bob World
Lite app has been built to provide a comprehensive suite of everyday banking
services on affordable feature phones, thereby expanding its reach across
semi-urban and rural India. It features a lightweight, low bandwidth
architecture with keypad navigation and secure access, making digital banking simple, seamless, and
accessible.
The bob
World Lite mobile banking app currently offers functionalities such as UPI-enabled
Scan & Pay and Send Money, Bill payments & Recharges and manage profile,
with more features to be introduced. Under the partnership, the app will come pre-loaded on JioPhone Prima 4G devices and
will be accessible directly from the home screen. Existing JioPhone Prima 4G
device users can access the bob World Lite app from JioStore.
Speaking on the
partnership, Dr. Debadatta Chand, Managing Director & CEO, Bank of Baroda said, “Driving digital inclusion remains a core priority for us at Bank of
Baroda. Presently, bob World mobile banking caters to retail customers and bob
World business serves merchants, SME and corporate customers. Our partnership
with Jio to launch bob World Lite is a significant step towards extending
digital banking beyond the smartphone ecosystem. With a large and growing base
of feature phone users in India, this initiative enables simple, secure, and
anytime banking while helping bridge the digital divide. This initiative also
opens up opportunities for us to onboard and engage with a wider customer base,
reinforcing our commitment to inclusive and sustainable growth.”
Speaking
on the partnership, Dr. (Hon.) Sunil Dutt, President, Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited
said, “At Jio, we have always focused
on expanding the reach of digital services to every Indian, at scale and with
affordability at the core. JioPhone has been central
to realising that vision, putting affordable devices and digital services in
the hands of millions of users across
India, while serving as a powerful tool for digital
democratization and inclusion. Today,
our partnership with Bank of Baroda marks the next step in that journey, enabling seamless digital
banking access at scale for millions of users. We are bringing full-featured banking to JioPhone
users across the country seamlessly, securely, and in a way that is built
around their needs.”
Leveraging
Jio’s digital reach and presence across the country and Bank of Baroda’s strong
nationwide footprint, diverse customer base and commitment to inclusive,
accessible, and affordable banking, the initiative is expected to significantly
expand the reach of digital banking services across India.