THEBUSINESSBYES BUREAU

MUMBAI, SEPTEMBER 15, 2026

Bank of India has unveiled 12 technology-driven initiatives spanning digital payments, programmable central bank digital currency, cards, self-service banking, compliance and fintech collaboration at the Global FinTech Fest (GFF) 2026, as the state-owned lender seeks to strengthen its digital capabilities and deliver more accessible and secure banking services.

The three-day event, held from September 9-11, saw the bank showcase solutions aimed at simplifying customer transactions, improving operational efficiency and leveraging emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, programmable digital currency and data-led customer engagement.

The bank's booth was inaugurated by Rajneesh Karnatak, Managing Director and CEO, Bank of India, in the presence of senior bank executives and representatives from its technology and fintech partners.

"India's financial-services ecosystem is entering a new phase in which innovation must deliver meaningful improvements in accessibility, security and customer experience," Karnatak said.

The initiatives presented at GFF 2026 reflect the bank's commitment to combining the reach and trust of a public-sector lender with emerging technologies and ecosystem partnerships, he said, adding that its digital transformation would focus on solutions that are inclusive, scalable and relevant to evolving customer needs.

Among the key launches was UPI Help 2.0, integrated into the bank's Omni Neo mobile application. The facility provides customers with a single authenticated interface to view UPI transaction history, raise and track complaints and manage mandates linked to their Bank of India accounts, irrespective of the UPI application through which the mandates were created.

The platform also offers a transaction replay facility, allowing customers to re-initiate an earlier UPI transaction from the Omni Neo app where their Bank of India account is linked.

The bank also introduced UPI Tap & Pay on point-of-sale terminals, enabling customers to make contactless UPI payments using NFC-enabled smartphones. For purchases below Rs 5,000, merchants can initiate a UPI collect request, following which customers can simply tap their phones on supported PoS machines to complete transactions.

Another initiative, the Unified Ticketing Platform developed with NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited, will enable interoperable QR-based ticketing across metro, bus and other public transport systems. Bank of India customers will be able to book tickets for local transport and tourist destinations through Omni Neo as participating operators join the platform.

For corporate customers, the bank launched IMPS bulk payments in collaboration with NPCI. Built on its Centralised Digital Payment Switch, the facility enables customers to submit payment requests in bulk and receive transaction responses in a single file.

A major highlight was the launch of user-level Programmable CBDC functionality. The solution allows digital tokens to carry predefined conditions, including merchant-category restrictions, geographical limits, expiry periods and specified acceptance criteria. The technology could support targeted subsidies, relief payments and purpose-bound benefits while improving transparency and auditability.

The bank also showcased its Terra Mastercard World Credit Card, offering travel, lifestyle and global-payment benefits, alongside the Unified AgentNxt Partner Integration platform for managing technology service providers and scaling assisted banking, merchant services and financial inclusion initiatives.

In the self-service banking segment, Bank of India, in association with Hitachi, demonstrated an Android-based Cash Recycler Machine capable of UPI-based cardless cash withdrawals, Green PIN generation and real-time debit-card issuance.

The lender also presented ALPHA PLUS, a compliance automation platform, FinTech Connect Portal for structured engagement with fintech companies, Markytics for branch-based customer engagement and cross-selling, and E-Kosha 2.0, a Tone Tag-enabled conversational banking proposition designed to provide voice-based access to banking services.

Bank of India's senior leadership also participated in GFF discussions on AI-powered credit, cybersecurity, responsible AI, autonomous banking, hyperpersonalisation, operational resilience and international fintech collaboration.

The bank said its participation at GFF 2026 underlined its focus on building a future-ready, inclusive and secure banking ecosystem while advancing its "Relationship Beyond Banking" proposition.