The Bank of Baroda launches UPI global QR payments

• Sunny Goel
• 27 Aug 2026
• 176 Views

The Bank of Baroda (BOB) has launched a new service that allows international visitors to pay Indian merchants using payment apps they already have on their smartphones. This service does away with the need for cash exchange or a local bank account. On 26 August, the bank announced the introduction of "UPI Global Reverse Acceptance." 

This service lets tourists, overseas Indians and users of selected foreign wallet or payment applications scan Bank of Baroda's UPI QR codes at merchant locations across India and make payments directly using their home country's apps. 

How BOB’s UPI Global Reverse Acceptance Works 

This newly implemented system of BOB builds on India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI). Visitors can simply scan BOB's UPI QR code via their home-country banking/payment app and then complete transactions immediately. The service is part of NPCI International's broader initiative to promote global interoperability in digital payments. 

It facilitates cross-border transactions between individuals and merchants for visitors from countries that are part of NPCI International's Global Payments ecosystem. This includes several countries such as Singapore, the UAE, Nepal, Bhutan, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, the United States, Qatar and France to name a few. 

What it Means for Travelers and Merchants

For travelers, this means fewer currency exchange counters, less cash to carry and a more familiar checkout experience through an app they already use. For Bank of Baroda's merchant network, this development opens up access to a larger international customer base and enhances its merchant-acquiring business. 

Mr. Sanjay Mudaliar, who is the Executive Director of Bank of Baroda, said, “Bank of Baroda is proud to introduce UPI Global Reverse Acceptance, an important step towards making digital payments more accessible across borders. By enabling international visitors to make merchant payments through payment applications they already use and are familiar with, we are enhancing convenience for travelers while creating new business opportunities for our merchants. UPI Global Reverse Acceptance strengthens our merchant acquiring franchise and reflects Bank of Baroda’s commitment to innovation and building a globally interoperable digital payments ecosystem.”

Bank of Baroda has announced the launch of the new initiative as part of the Government of India's Digital India agenda. This initiative positions the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) not only as a platform for domestic transactions but also as a means to enhance global digital payment interoperability. As UPI expands its reach through partnerships in Southeast Asia, the Gulf region and beyond, the competition in this space is becoming increasingly fierce. 

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Source: MSN