Whatsapp Payment feature may start next month.

The WhatsApp Features of Whatsapp were awaiting it could go live next month. The matter has been reported to ET by the sources holding the information. 

 This feature of Whatsapp will give a great boost to digital payments in the country. Sources said that the widely used messaging app in the country, Whatsapp, Unified Payments Interface (UPI) based on its payment platform is in different stages of integration with State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank.

One source said, "Whatsapp is already testing this feature with a partner bank. We believe that according to the trial results, this product can be live for the Consumers by the end of February. " The second banking source said that the system is in different stages of system integration with Whatsapp. Banker said, "We are checking the security to ensure data safety." Before going live after the security check in the integration process, the final step will be the testing of the product between the selected users.
Facebook's messaging company got the government permission for integration with the UPA in July.

 In this way, it has joined other global giants, including Google, who are preparing to bring their version of Directly Connect Instant Payment Facility to the banks. 

 In India, the messaging service beta penetration among people of every section is waiting for the eagerly awaited payment feature. 

 It has the potential to bring a large section of the country to the realm of digital payments ecosystem.
However, bankers also said that in the wake of the data of the bank customers, before the integration of many security related issues,

 it is necessary to redress. Another senior banker involved in the system integration process with Whatsapp said, 

"The easy way to send money to text messages is to ensure encryption at many levels to keep data safe. 

 The UPA itself is a complex settlement mechanism of several banking partners. These issues need to be settled before the product is live.
Whatsapp will work as a top player in sending back money in the backend and identifying who gets the money.

 Its payments platform is being integrated with banks, so it will also identify the customers' bank account and finally UPI will help in the transaction settlement.