ICICI Bank introduces biometric authentication for UPI payments

By Aarav Garg

ICICI Bank has introduced biometric authentication for Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions on its iMobile mobile banking app, allowing customers to approve smaller payments using fingerprint or facial recognition instead of entering a UPI PIN.

The feature applies to UPI transactions of up to ₹5,000 ($52) and is designed to speed up payment flows while adding an additional layer of device-based security. Transactions above the threshold will continue to require the existing UPI PIN for authorisation.

Customers can use the biometric option for peer-to-peer transfers, QR-code merchant payments and online UPI transactions processed through the iMobile app. On Android devices, authentication is enabled through fingerprint recognition, while iOS users can use facial recognition.

An ICICI Bank spokesperson, said, “Safeguarding our customers’ interest has always been at the centre of our operations, and we believe in providing our customers with advanced digital solutions. The introduction of biometric authentication is aligned with current regulatory guidelines, and marks a meaningful step towards enabling a more secure and seamless payment experience. By leveraging device-level biometric verification on iMobile, we aim to further strengthen transaction security while ensuring ease of use. Customers also have the flexibility to choose between PIN-based and biometric authentication, based on their preference and convenience.”

The rollout reflects growing momentum in India’s digital payments market toward lower-friction authentication methods as transaction volumes continue to rise. UPI has become the dominant retail payments rail in India, driving demand for faster checkout experiences across person-to-person and merchant use cases.

Banks and payment providers have increasingly explored biometric and device-linked authentication tools to improve convenience while reducing risks associated with PIN entry in public settings. Such methods can also help address failed transactions caused by delays or input errors during checkout.

ICICI Bank said the feature is available on the latest versions of the iMobile app, with Android users requiring version 30 and iOS users version 28.2. Customers can activate the option through the UPI settings section of the application by selecting their account, enabling biometric payments and verifying the request with their existing UPI PIN.

The launch adds to broader efforts by Indian financial institutions to embed more seamless authentication into digital payment journeys while maintaining security controls. As UPI expands across retail commerce and everyday transfers, banks are increasingly focused on balancing transaction speed, user experience and fraud prevention through app-based innovation.