WhatsApp Payments: Here’s How You Can Send Money to Your Friends

WhatsApp Payments feature is finally live across India. Backed by Unified Payments Interface (UPI), the WhatsApp Payments feature is available on both Android and iOS. With this, you will now be able to send and receive directly to your bank account (p2p). However, you will not be able to pay to merchants as of now. To do so, you will have to add the shopkeeper as a contact and then follow the steps to send money like you will do for any other WhatsApp friend of yours.

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You don’t have the feature yet? Here’s how you can get it

Firsts things first. Update WhatsApp and get to the latest version 2.18. Note that you will not get this feature just by updating the app. You would need someone, who has already got Payments feature, to message you. After that, just relaunch WhatsApp and the feature will automatically show up. While the feature is already tested to be available for both iOS and Android, note that it might take some time for everyone to get it.

WhatsApp Payments Setup

Go to settings and tap on “Payments”. Add your bank account by going to the “Add New Bank Account” tab. Note that the payments will work with only that mobile number which is registered with your bank. Note, you will not have the option to add and link new mobile number to your bank account through WhatsApp.

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After this, just accept the terms and conditions and verify your mobile number. Once, your mobile number is verified by WhatsApp UPI platform, the list of bank accounts linked to that particular mobile number will automatically show up. Choose your preferred bank account enter other details of the debit card to create a Virtual Payee Address (VPA). The process is similar to activating BHIM app. All major banks are supported.

How to send money?

To send money to your friend, ensure that the Payments feature is activated to his/her WhatsApp account as well. The person needs to setup their bank account as well. After which, just start chatting and tap the attachment button (like you do for sending images) to see Payments. Now follow the steps to send money. The feature works in a group chat as well and you can choose a particular member in a group chat to send money. Don’t worry, if you are not sure whether the other party has WhatsApp Payments activated for not. The app will alert you of that.

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