- Industry-first ‘bob World Lite’ brings full-service mobile banking to feature phones
- Pre-loaded on JioPhone Prima 4G, the app targets millions across rural and semi-urban India
- UPI, bill payments, and seamless onboarding aim to bridge the digital divide
- Partnership aligns with India’s push for inclusive, affordable digital financial access
NE BUSINESS BUREAU
MUMBAI, APR 14
In a landmark move set to redefine financial accessibility, Bank of Baroda and Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited have joined hands to launch ‘bob World Lite’—a first-of-its-kind mobile banking solution tailored exclusively for feature phone users.
Designed to work seamlessly on the JioPhone Prima 4G, the app marks a major leap in extending digital banking services beyond smartphones, aligning with the broader vision of the Government of India and the Reserve Bank of India to democratise digital payments.
Unlike conventional apps restricted to smartphones, bob World Lite has been engineered with a lightweight, low-bandwidth architecture and intuitive keypad navigation. This ensures that even users in connectivity-challenged regions can access secure and seamless banking services.
The app offers a comprehensive suite of everyday banking functionalities, including UPI-enabled Scan & Pay, fund transfers, bill payments, recharges, and profile management. It will come pre-installed on JioPhone Prima 4G devices and can also be accessed via the JioStore by existing users. Notably, the platform supports a simple self-onboarding process, making it accessible not only to Bank of Baroda customers but also to users of other banks.
Speaking on the partnership, Debadatta Chand, Managing Director & CEO, Bank of Baroda, said, “Driving digital inclusion remains a core priority for us at Bank of Baroda. Presently, bob World mobile banking caters to retail customers and bob World business serves merchants, SME and corporate customers. Our partnership with Jio to launch bob World Lite is a significant step towards extending digital banking beyond the smartphone ecosystem. With a large and growing base of feature phone users in India, this initiative enables simple, secure, and anytime banking while helping bridge the digital divide. This initiative also opens up opportunities for us to onboard and engage with a wider customer base, reinforcing our commitment to inclusive and sustainable growth.”
Echoing this vision, Sunil Dutt, President, Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited, said, “At Jio, we have always focused on expanding the reach of digital services to every Indian, at scale and with affordability at the core. JioPhone has been central to realising that vision, putting affordable devices and digital services in the hands of millions of users across India, while serving as a powerful tool for digital democratization and inclusion. Today, our partnership with Bank of Baroda marks the next step in that journey, enabling seamless digital banking access at scale for millions of users. We are bringing full-featured banking to JioPhone users across the country seamlessly, securely, and in a way that is built around their needs.”
By combining Jio’s expansive digital ecosystem with Bank of Baroda’s nationwide banking footprint, the initiative is poised to significantly widen the reach of formal financial services—particularly across underserved and digitally excluded segments of India.
