Bajaj Finserv vs Branch Instant Loan: Licences, fees and user complaints

When choosing between Bajaj Finserv and Branch Instant Loan, the main difference is their regulatory standing and phone permissions. Bajaj Finserv holds an RBI licence and reads your contacts. Branch has no matched licence but does not ask for your contacts.

By Qrates research desk · 2026-10-27

When choosing between these two loan apps, the main difference lies in their regulatory standing and what they can see on your phone. Bajaj Finserv operates under a confirmed RBI licence and asks to read your contacts, while Branch Instant Personal Loan does not ask for your contacts but has no matched licence on the official registers we check. You can check the latest figures for both on the Qrates directory. If you are unsure about the regulatory status of other providers, you can learn how to check if a loan app is RBI registered in 2026.

Quick answer

Bajaj Finserv is published by Bajaj Finance Limited, an NBFC that holds an active RBI prepaid instrument issuer licence (Qrates directory). For Branch Instant Personal Loan, we could not match a licence on the registers we check (Qrates directory). Bajaj Finserv asks to read your contacts, while Branch does not. Branch users frequently complain that nobody answers their support requests, while Bajaj users report the loan costs more than advertised. You can also see how these compare to other providers in our KreditBee vs Branch: Loan app fees, permissions and complaints compared analysis.

At a glance

Feature	Bajaj Finserv	Branch Instant Personal Loan
Licence	Active RBI prepaid instrument issuer	None matched on registers we check
Phone permissions	Reads text messages, reads contacts	Reads text messages
All-time rating	4.74	4.61
Recent rating average	3.16	3.21
Top user complaint	Credit report problems	Nobody answers

RBI registration and licences

Bajaj Finserv operates under Bajaj Finance Limited, an established Non-Banking Financial Company. It holds an active RBI prepaid instrument issuer licence (Qrates directory). It also holds an unverified IRDAI corporate agent licence under the number CA0101. If you are interested in the differences between traditional lending and digital apps, read our guide on NBFC vs bank personal loan.

For Branch Instant Personal Loan, we could not match a licence on the RBI, SEBI, or IRDAI registers we check (Qrates directory). Using an RBI-registered app means the lender must follow specific regulatory rules. For example, the RBI introduced rules on late payment penalties that took effect in April 2024, and separate rules regarding recovery agent conduct in 2026 (rbi.org.in).

Phone permissions and data access

Both apps require permission to read your text messages to assess your profile. Bajaj Finserv asks for extensive access to your phone, including reading your contacts (Qrates directory).

Branch Instant Personal Loan does not ask to read your contacts. You can view the typical permissions requested by loan and credit apps on their respective directory pages to understand what data you hand over.

What users complain about

In the last 90 days, the most raised problem for Branch is that nobody answers, appearing in 19 out of 400 Google Play reviews read (Qrates directory). Branch users also report credit report problems in 10 of 400 reviews, and feeling pushed into things in 8 of 400 reviews. For a broader perspective, see our Bajaj Finserv vs KreditBee in 2026: Licences, permissions and complaints article.

Bajaj Finserv users report credit report problems in 5 of 400 reviews (Qrates directory). They also complain the loan costs more than advertised in 4 of 400 reviews. Both companies actively monitor their app store listings to address negative feedback.

Who each one suits, by need

If an NBFC registered lender matters to you, note that Bajaj Finserv operates under a confirmed RBI licence. Branch does not appear on the registers we check.

If keeping your phone contacts private matters to you, note that Branch does not ask for contact permissions. Bajaj Finserv does require access to your contacts.

If reaching customer support matters to you, note that a high number of Branch users report that nobody answers their queries.

FAQs

Is Branch loan app RBI registered?

We could not match a licence for Branch International Financial Services Pvt Ltd on the RBI registers we check.

Branch loan app safe hai ya nahi?

Branch has no matched licence on the official registers and reads your text messages. Users frequently complain about unresponsive customer support, with 19 out of 400 recent reviews stating nobody answers.

Bajaj Finserv personal loan processing fee kitna hai?

You must check the exact loan agreement for the processing fee, interest rate, loan tenure, foreclosure charges, and CIBIL score requirement before you sign. Bajaj users report in recent reviews that the loan sometimes costs more than advertised.

How to compare Bajaj Finserv and Branch loan?

When comparing them, look beyond the disbursal time. Bajaj Finserv is an NBFC registered app with an active RBI licence, but it asks to read your contacts. Branch does not ask for your contacts, but we could not match a regulatory licence for it, and users report poor customer service.

The short version

Bajaj Finserv is an RBI-registered app that asks for phone permissions including your contacts.
Branch Instant Personal Loan asks for fewer permissions but has no matched licence on the official registers we check.
Bajaj users warn of higher than advertised costs.
Branch users struggle to get answers from customer support.

Sources

Disclaimer

Qrates is an information directory. It takes no commission from any company listed and does not recommend products. Figures are taken from the sources named and dated, and they change; check the company's own page before you decide. This is not investment, credit, insurance or tax advice for your situation.