How to check if a loan app is RBI registered in 2026

Most loan apps do not hold a licence themselves. They work with a registered NBFC that does. Learn how to find an app's partner NBFC, look it up on the official Reserve Bank of India website, and check phone permissions to avoid illegal lenders.

By Qrates research desk · 2026-10-27

You can check if a loan app is legal by finding its partner NBFC name and looking it up on the Reserve Bank of India website. Most loan apps do not hold a licence themselves. They work with a registered company that does. This step-by-step guide shows you exactly where to look to avoid illegal apps and harassment.

Quick answer: How to check if a loan app is RBI registered

Find the NBFC partner name in the app description on your phone's app store.
Download the official NBFC list from the Reserve Bank of India website.
Search for the NBFC name on that list to confirm it holds a valid licence.
Check the Qrates directory to see the app's verified licence details and permissions.

Licence and registration: What RBI registered actually means

Loan apps themselves rarely hold an RBI licence. They act as digital lending platforms for a bank or a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC). The partner NBFC holds the actual Certificate of Registration from the RBI.

A legal loan app will clearly state the name of its NBFC partner on its website and app store page. If an app hides its partner name, it is likely illegal.

Regulator warnings

The RBI warns against apps offering 7-day loans, as these are illegal in India. Scam apps often display fake DIGITA badges or forged RBI logos to look legitimate.

Regulators warn against any app that asks for an upfront processing fee before approving the loan. A real lender deducts the processing fee from the loan amount they send to your bank account.

What it can read on your phone

Phone permissions tell you a lot about a loan app. Under the RBI Digital Lending Directions, loan apps cannot ask for permanent access to your contact list, camera, or photo gallery.

Legal apps only ask for one-time access to the camera for KYC verification. Illegal loan apps force you to grant contact list permission before you can open the app.

What users complain about

Borrowers using unregistered apps report severe harassment and extortion. Recovery agents use stolen contact lists to send abusive messages to family and friends.

Users complain about hidden penalties and demands for repayment even after the loan is cleared. These illegal apps often double the loan amount in a matter of days. If you have been targeted, you should know how to file a complaint with the RBI Ombudsman to report the entity.

How to check this yourself

Step 1: Find the NBFC partner name

Open the app store description and scroll to the bottom to find the lending partner. If the description only lists a generic email address and no company name, do not install the app.

Step 2: Download the RBI NBFC list

Go to the official Reserve Bank of India website at rbi.org.in. Navigate to the NBFC section and download the latest Excel list of registered NBFCs. Search the file for the exact partner name you found in step one.

Step 3: Search the Qrates directory

You can visit the Qrates lending apps directory to check the latest figures and NBFC partner details for yourself. Search the Qrates directory of loan and credit apps to see verified licence numbers, exact fees, and phone permissions for the app. We track and display the NBFC partners for Indian loan apps so you can check them quickly.

Step 4: Check the Sachet portal

Use the RBI Sachet portal to see if other users have reported the app as an illegal entity. This government website tracks complaints against unregistered companies collecting money. If the app shows up in the Sachet complaint records, avoid it.

FAQs

Loan app registered hai ya nahi kaise check kare?

First, find the NBFC partner name in the app description. Then, download the official list of registered NBFCs from the RBI website and search for that name.

How to check NBFC license of loan app?

You cannot check the app itself, as apps usually do not hold the licence. You must find the partner NBFC name and verify its Certificate of Registration on the RBI website.

Fake loan app se kaise bache?

Never install an app that asks for permission to read your contacts or photo gallery. Always verify the lender's name on the RBI NBFC list before sharing your PAN or Aadhaar details.

Are 7 days loan apps legal in India?

No, 7-day loan apps are illegal in India. Regulators warn against these apps because they charge extreme penalties and use extortion to collect money. You can also review the RBI alert list of unauthorised forex trading apps to understand how regulators flag other types of dangerous financial platforms.

How to complain against illegal loan apps?

You can file a complaint on the RBI Sachet portal online. You can also report the app to your local cyber police station or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.

The short version

Loan apps usually partner with an NBFC rather than holding an RBI licence themselves.
You can verify an app by finding its NBFC partner and checking the RBI registered NBFC list.
Legal loan apps cannot ask for permanent access to your contacts or photo gallery.
Apps offering 7-day loans or asking for upfront processing fees are illegal.

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. A licence or a clean record today does not guarantee how a company behaves later. To complain, use the regulator's own portal (RBI CMS, SEBI SCORES or IRDAI Bima Bharosa).