How To Use BHIM UPI For Fund Transfer Or Payments Without Internet?

Prime Minister Modi launched BHIM (Bharat Interface for Money) app developed by National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) on 30th December 2016 for facilitating fast and safe cash payment transactions via mobile phones. The launch came in the wake of demonetisation when India was confronting huge cash crisis after the scrapping of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 bank notes and aimed to promote cashless economy and digital transactions.

How To Use BHIM UPI For Fund Transfer Or Payments Without Internet?

Of late BHIM United Payments Interface (UPI) has become the most commonly used platform for making money transfer, bill payments, online shopping transactions etc. The 24x7 payment service can be accessed over GSM feature phones as well as smartphones. All a user needs to use BHIM UPI service is a bank account, registered mobile number and a debit card.

User can simply download the BHIM app and for making fund transfer or merchant payments the receiver needs to be on the UPI platform. The payment can be done using the beneficiary's VPA or virtual payment address or the UPI QR can also be used for sending or making payments. Nonetheless, if you have a basic phone with no internet facility or your internet is down for some time, you can still access BHIM service.

How to access BHIM service for money transfer or payment without internet?

For accessing the features of BHIM over your phone, you need to dial *99#. Currently, the functionality is available across all GSM service providers and handsets but not on CDMA phones. The service enables payments or fund transfer through VPA or a combination of bank account number and IFSC code.

Below are listed steps to activate BHIM for fund transfer service without internet:

Step 1: Dial *99# from your phone

Step 2: Select your preferred language and send.

Step 3: A message saying Welcome to BHIM *99# will appear. Here in you need to provide your bank's name or first 4 letters of your bank IFSC code.

Step 4: You then need to select the bank account from the provided options

Step 5: After selecting your bank account, you need to provide the last 6 digits of your debit card and month and expiry separated by a single space.

Step 6: Enter your new six-digit UPI PIN.

Step 7: Re-enter your six-digit UPI PIN.

Step 8: Your UPI is set and now you can check your account balance by entering your UPI PIN again.

Notably, *99# service is available at a cost and your telecom service provider charges a fee for it. You need to confirm the exact charges for availing features of BHIM using *99# from your TSP. For using *99#, TRAI has set the maximum cap of Rs. 0.5 per transaction.

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