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

You can check if a loan app is legal by finding its partner company and looking it up on the Reserve Bank of India website. The RBI does not register apps directly. It registers the banks and Non-Banking Financial Companies that fund the loans. Follow these steps to verify any digital lending app.

By Qrates research desk · 2026-10-27

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

Follow these steps to verify any digital lending app.

Find the name of the Non-Banking Financial Company or bank the app claims to partner with.
Download the official list of registered NBFCs from the Reserve Bank of India website.
Search the RBI list for the NBFC name to confirm their Certificate of Registration.
Visit the official website of that NBFC to check if they actually list the loan app as an approved digital lending partner.

What you need before you start

Gather these details before you begin your search.

The exact spelling of the loan app name.
The name of the NBFC partner, usually found at the bottom of the app website or in the app store description.
A phone or computer with a web browser to open the RBI official website and download a PDF file.

Step-by-step guide to verifying a loan app

The Reserve Bank of India requires all legal loan apps to work with a registered bank or NBFC (RBI Digital Lending Directions, 2022). Here is how you check the connection.

Step 1: Find the NBFC partner name

Open the app store and read the description to find the legal entity name providing the loan. The app itself is just a technology platform. The NBFC is the actual company lending you the money. Write down the full legal name of this company.

Step 2: Check the RBI registered NBFC list

Go to rbi.org.in and click on the Sitemap link at the bottom. Click on NBFC List and download the October 2026 directory. Search the PDF file for the exact NBFC name you found. If the company is missing from this list, the app is not legal.

Step 3: Match the app name on the NBFC website

If the NBFC is on the list, go to the NBFC actual website. RBI guidelines for digital lending apps require NBFCs to list all their approved apps on their own websites. Find the digital lending partners page and check if your app is listed there.

Step 4: Look for the Key Fact Statement

Start the loan process in the app to see what documents they provide. The app must show you a Key Fact Statement before you agree to the loan. Stop immediately if they do not show this document with the exact interest rate and fees.

How long it takes and what it costs

Verifying a loan app takes very little time and no money.

Task	Time or Cost
Checking the RBI directory and NBFC website	5 to 10 minutes
Cost to check records on the RBI website	Free
Cost to file a complaint on the Sachet portal	Free

The RBI and the Sachet portal do not charge users to check records. You do not need to pay anyone to verify a company for you.

Red flags to watch out for

Illegal apps use tricks to look genuine. Watch for these warning signs.

Fake DIGITA badges

Scam apps often paste a fake DIGITA badge on their loading screen. DIGITA stands for the Digital India Trust Agency. A badge means nothing if the NBFC is not on the RBI list.

Missing Key Fact Statement

A missing Key Fact Statement is a direct violation of RBI rules. This document tells you exactly how much you will pay back. Treat a missing statement as a major warning sign.

Upfront processing fees

Legal loan apps deduct their processing fee from the loan amount they send you. Illegal apps ask you to pay ₹500 or ₹1,000 upfront before they approve the loan. Never pay money to get a loan.

If it does not work: How to report a fake loan app

You can take action if you find an unregistered app.

Do not install the app or give it phone permissions if you cannot find the NBFC on the RBI list.
Go to the RBI Sachet portal at sachet.rbi.org.in to file a complaint against the unregistered entity if you already installed it and suspect a scam.
File a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal if an illegal app is harassing you or your contacts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to know if a loan app is genuine or fake?

A genuine loan app clearly names its RBI registered NBFC partner and provides a Key Fact Statement. Fake apps hide their NBFC name and ask for upfront fees.

Loan app RBI registered hai ya nahi kaise check kare?

You can check by downloading the NBFC list from the RBI official website. Search the PDF file for the partner company name shown in the app.

Which loan apps are banned by RBI?

The RBI does not publish a list of banned apps. They only publish a list of registered and approved NBFCs. An app is illegal if its partner is not on this approved list.

Where to find the RBI registered NBFC list?

You can find the list on the official RBI website at rbi.org.in. Look under the Sitemap section and click on NBFC List to download the latest file.

The short version

A loan app must partner with a registered bank or NBFC to lend money legally.
You can verify the NBFC by downloading the official list from the RBI website.
The NBFC website must list the loan app as an approved digital partner.
Every legal loan app must provide a Key Fact Statement before you sign the agreement.
Fake apps often ask for upfront fees and use fake trust badges.

You can visit the Qrates directory of loan and credit apps to quickly see the verified NBFC partner, RBI licence status, and exact phone permissions for the app you are considering.