Women in India show stronger credit repayment behaviour

Women borrowers in India are demonstrating stronger repayment discipline and higher financial engagement than their male counterparts, according to behavioural insights released by Zavo, a financial empowerment platform that tracks user credit behaviour across its digital tools.

The findings are based on activity across more than three million users on Zavo’s platform and highlight a shift in how borrower reliability is emerging within India’s expanding digital credit ecosystem.

Women account for 948,000 users on the platform, representing 31.6% of the overall user base. Despite making up roughly one third of borrowers, they contribute a larger share of repayments. Of the $ 54.77 million repaid through the platform in cleared loan and credit card dues, women accounted for $19.16 million or about 35% of the total.

The data indicates that female borrowers are contributing a disproportionately higher share of repayments relative to their presence on the platform, suggesting stronger repayment discipline.

Engagement patterns also point to consistent financial monitoring among women users. More than 663,600 women remain active on the platform each month, regularly checking repayment schedules and tracking credit activity. Around 265,000 log in weekly, while approximately 46,500 access the platform daily to review equated monthly instalments (EMIs), track dues, or prepare for upcoming payments.

This level of engagement appears to translate into more stable repayment behaviour. Borrowers who frequently track their financial commitments are generally less likely to allow short-term liquidity pressures to escalate into long-term delinquency.

According to repayment data shared by the platform, women recorded 31,340 repayments, of which 22,600 were completed on time. Another 6,800 payments were cleared within a short delay of under 30 days, while only 1,940 accounts moved into default, suggesting that most repayment delays are temporary rather than structural.

“Women borrowers are often more disciplined when it comes to managing credit obligations,” said Kundan Shahi, Founder of Zavo. “As digital tools make credit more transparent and easier to monitor, we are seeing borrowers become more proactive about tracking EMIs and protecting their credit health. Women in particular tend to stay more engaged with their repayment schedules.”

Demographic trends within the data also show where women are entering the credit ecosystem. The 26–35 age group represents the largest segment of female users on the platform, accounting for more than 41% of women borrowers. These users are typically early-career professionals managing personal loans, credit cards, and other instalment-based credit products.

At the same time, younger women are increasingly beginning their credit journeys earlier. Nearly 25% of female users fall within the 18–25 age group, suggesting that many are establishing credit histories soon after entering the workforce.

The platform also reported growing adoption of credit-building tools among women borrowers. More than 45,700 female users have begun using services designed to improve their credit scores and strengthen long-term access to borrowing.

The findings reflect a broader shift in lending dynamics across India’s digital finance sector. Traditional lending models have historically relied on collateral ownership, long-standing banking relationships, and established credit histories—factors that often limited access to credit for many women.

Digital financial platforms are beginning to provide lenders with new behavioural insights. By analysing repayment patterns, engagement levels, and credit management habits, lenders are increasingly recognising women borrowers as a reliable segment within the country’s expanding consumer credit market.

As digital financial access widens, such behavioural data may play a larger role in shaping how lenders assess creditworthiness and expand borrowing opportunities across India’s growing credit economy.