Amazon and Walmart‑owned Flipkart ramp up lending push in India

Amazon and Walmart‑owned Flipkart are accelerating their expansion into the Indian credit market — going beyond retail to offer loans and buy‑now‑pay‑later (BNPL) financing as they challenge traditional banks. Under its parent company, Amazon has acquired the Bengaluru‑based nonbank lender Axio, which already provides BNPL and personal loans. This acquisition paves the way for Amazon to begin offering small‑business credit and cash‑management services, aimed at merchants and smaller sellers, especially outside major Indian cities. Meanwhile, Flipkart — in which Walmart holds an 80% stake — has formally registered its lending arm, Flipkart Finance, and is awaiting regulatory approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Once approved, Flipkart plans to launch two main “pay‑later” financing products: no‑cost monthly installments over 3–24 months for e‑commerce shoppers, and higher‑interest loans (18–26% annually) for consumer durables. This push comes as India's consumer loan market has surged — growing from about US $80 billion in 2020 to roughly US $212 billion by early 2025. By owning both demand‑ and supply‑side data through their vast user networks and payment platforms, Amazon and Flipkart aim to disrupt traditional banking models and expand financial inclusion across cities beyond the usual urban centers. #Amazon #Flipkart #BNPL #DigitalLending #SlimScan #GrowthStocks #CANSLIM