New Delhi, 6:30 PM — India’s cooperative banking network is entering a digital age. With the launch of Sahkar Digi-Pay and Sahkar Digi-Loan, the Ministry of Cooperation is taking Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) — long known for their traditional, paper-heavy systems- now straight into India’s fintech ecosystem.
On 10 Nov 2025, at Co-Op Kumbh 2025, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched these two apps are designed to make 9 crore cooperative bank customers part of India’s digital payments and credit revolution.
When and Why They Were Launched
- Launch date: November 10, 2025
- By: Ministry of Cooperation and NAFCUB (National Federation of Urban Cooperative Banks)
- Goal: To equip all UCBs with digital tools for payments, loans, and member services
- Expected users: Around 9 crore existing cooperative bank account holders
For years, UCBs have struggled to compete with commercial and private banks in technology. These apps will reduce this gap, making small, community-based banks as digitally capable as large financial institutions. Not only this, it also supports regular users for 100s of paperwork for just to take microloans.
Feature Comparison: What Each App Does
| Category | Sahkar Digi-Pay | Sahkar Digi-Loan |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Digital payment platform for cooperative bank customers | Digital loan processing for UCB borrowers |
| Services Offered | UPI, IMPS, RuPay, AEPS, QR code payments | Loan application, e-KYC, credit scoring, approval tracking |
| Who Can Use It | Members of Urban Cooperative Banks and credit societies | Borrowers from UCBs, SHGs, MSMEs |
| Backend System | Integrated with NPCI for real-time settlements | Linked with UIDAI, CKYC, and RBI credit systems |
| Key Benefit for Banks | Direct payment system without sponsor banks | Faster loan turnaround and digital documentation |
| Languages | Regional language support | Unified platform within co-op bank portal |
| Security | RBI and NPCI-backed transaction layer | Authentication, fraud control, and data encryption |
How It Works for Everyday Users
If you’re a cooperative bank customer — a shop owner, local trader, or small business member — these apps will change how you bank day-to-day:
- Pay and Receive Instantly: All cooperative account holders, just like BHIM for most banks, will be able to send or accept money via UPI or QR by using Digi Pay app.
- Apply for Loans Digitally: The account holder just needs to provide or upload Aadhaar, PAN, and basic documents; the system checks eligibility and tracks approval. The Adhaar OTP will verify and give an instant loan. Digi-loan app, however, just like other banks credit score to determine eligibility.
- No Middlemen: The major benefit for rural or tier 2 cities account holder, Transactions stay inside your own cooperative bank’s digital system. you and your mobile phone, no middleman ask commission from you.
- Regional Access: Apps will support multiple Indian languages for local comfort and inclusivity.
India’s Cooperative Banking Growth Story — Stronger, Smarter, and Fully Digital by 2027
| Metric | 2023 | 2025 | 2027 Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Cooperative Banks | 1,514 | 1,700+ | 2,000+ |
| Cooperative Credit Societies | 7,400 | 8,000 | 10,000 |
| Users (Members + Accounts) | 7.8 crore | 9 crore | 12 crore |
| NPAs (Sector Average) | 2.8% | 0.6% | < 0.5% |
The Ministry plans to ensure every city with over 2 lakh people has at least one Urban Cooperative Bank — digitally equipped from day one.
Availability: Where and how to download
As of now, the apps are officially launched but not yet live on the Google Play Store or App Store.
According to official sources, Sahkar Digi-Pay and Sahkar Digi-Loan are being rolled out through individual Urban Cooperative Banks.
That means you will likely install or download them through your local co-op bank’s website, or you can visit your home branch for proper launch timings, once your bank fully activates it.
This step-by-step rollout keeps things secure, simple, and reliable — especially for small cooperative banks going digital for the very first time. For first-time users, you can ask for help from bank officers.
Easemoney View: Real Change at Ground Level
Unlike flashy fintech launches, this is a quieter but deeper transformation. These apps aren’t just about payments or loans — they are about restoring digital equality.
For millions of cooperative customers, mostly from rural areas, villages, tier 2 or tier 3 cities, who have never had access to seamless digital banking, this is the moment they finally step into the same financial network as everyone else — without leaving their trusted local banks.
If implemented right, Sahkar Digi-Pay and Sahkar Digi-Loan could turn India’s cooperative network into one of the most inclusive digital banking systems in the world — rooted in trust, powered by technology.
Bank’s recent reports –
