Google launches UPI-linked credit card in partnership with Axis Bank
17 Dec 2025, 10:04 PMOther companies such as Flipkart's super.money and Cred have also launched co-branded credit cards recently.
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Google Pay has launched Flex, marking its entry into India's co-branded credit card segment through a partnership with private lender Axis Bank.
The Google Pay Flex Axis Bank Credit Card, which is built on the RuPay network, enables users to link their credit card directly to UPI for payments, according to a statement.
The tech giant will use this launch to address India's underpenetrated credit card market, where only one in five customers currently has access to credit despite widespread digital payment adoption.
The Flex card offers a rewards programme that credits virtual “Stars” on transactions, with each Star worth Rs 1. The product also offers flexible repayment options, allowing customers to convert credit card bills into installments of six or nine months directly within the Google Pay app.
"At Google Pay, our goal has always been to use technology to make financial products simple and accessible for everyone. While digital payments have become ubiquitous in India, transactional credit remains underpenetrated. We built Flex to bridge this gap, simplifying and reimagining the card experience for the next generation of users," said Sharath Bulusu, senior director of product management for Google Pay.
Google Pay has earlier partnered with other banks and non-bank lenders to offer personal and gold-backed loans through the app.
Arnika Dixit, president and head of cards, payments and wealth management at Axis Bank, noted, "With UPI emerging as the preferred mode of payment, we identified a clear opportunity to co-create a credit offering tailored for the digital-first consumer."
The co-branded credit card segment has witnessed significant activity. PhonePe launched its co-branded RuPay credit card with HDFC Bank in June, followed by a partnership with SBI Cards for both Visa and RuPay networks. Paytm entered this space earlier with a Citibank co-branded card in 2019, subsequently adding HDFC Bank in 2021 and SBI Cards. Other companies such as Cred and Flipkart's super.money have also introduced UPI-compatible credit card offerings to tap into India's growing digital payments ecosystem.
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