PayNearby's 'Saathi' app brings UPI to rural India
PayNearby just dropped its new Saathi app, making it easier for people in rural and semi-urban areas to get started with UPI payments.
Approved by NPCI as a Third-Party Application Provider, Saathi taps into PayNearby's huge network—12 lakh retail partners across 20,000+ PIN codes—to help folks who might not be comfortable with digital banking go cashless.
What can you actually do with Saathi?
With Saathi, you can link multiple payment instruments, scan QR codes at local shops, pay bills (with handy reminders), recharge your phone or broadband, and even start investing in mutual funds from just ₹100.
The app also supports fixed deposits, digital gold, and credit products—and PayNearby says micro-insurance and lending are coming soon.
Designed for everyone—especially 1st-timers
Saathi stands out by focusing on users who aren't always online or fluent in English.
It offers multi-language support, voice navigation (thanks to Bhashini), an AI assistant for guidance, and even lets you check Aadhaar seeding for government subsidies.
Over 1 lakh downloads already show it's catching on where digital help is needed most.