Business Banking Blog

Virtual Payment Address: Tap, Pay, Done (2023)

Virtual Payment Address

Virtual Payment Address, or VPA for short, is the address to or via which UPI funds transfers can be conducted. All banks and financial organizations worldwide recognize a virtual payment address (VPA), which is a standard digital bank account number. Additionally, a VPA offers you perks including increased flexibility with foreign payments, convenience of usage, and a wider range of payment possibilities.

It’s not necessary to link the VPA number on a particular UPI app to your actual bank account. UPI programs link to your bank account using this code, which is exclusive to your account, to start instantaneous financial transactions. Using UPI software, you can create a digital identity for your bank account known as a “virtual payment address,” or VPA. A UPI application’s “source” is the bank account associated with the virtual payment address (VPA). VPA numbers are used to construct a virtual or digital bank account.

Features of a Virtual Payment Address

Now that you understand the definition and complete form of VPA in banking, let’s talk about some crucial features connected to this payment method:

Unique Identifier: For UPI users, a Virtual Payment Address is a unique identity that eliminates the need to share sensitive information during transactions, such as IFSC codes and bank account numbers. This enhanced security offers a safe and easy-to-use solution for seamless peer-to-peer and peer-to-merchant transactions within the Unified Payments Interface ecosystem.

Various Accounts: By linking a Virtual Payment Address to many bank accounts using a single identity, you may manage multiple accounts. This streamlines financial processes by enabling quick cash transfers, bill payments, and merchant transactions from several bank accounts. Due to the VPA’s ability to uniquely identify every user inside the UPI ecosystem, confidential financial information is kept safe and private throughout these transactions. This feature also guarantees quick transactions, which increases your flexibility and convenience.

Simple to Remember: The Virtual Payment Address provides a more straightforward substitute for cumbersome bank account numbers, facilitating memory retention. Because of the enhanced security measures, these addresses are secure and simple to remember. Unlike traditional physical account numbers, VPAs are easier to remember and offer a hassle-free transaction experience. With this payment option, you could be able to eliminate the inconvenience of needing to remember complex account credentials.

Linked to Bank Accounts: Funds transferred to this address are immediately debited or credited to the bank accounts because the VPA is linked to the bank accounts. This quick and easy transfer procedure guarantees smooth financial management and immediate access to your money. It also guarantees efficient and real-time transactions.

Instant Transactions: UPI transactions, especially those using a Virtual Paymеnt Addrеss, are practically real-time, assuring quick money transfers with no delays. UPI is a useful and time-saving platform for smooth peer-to-peer and peer-to-merchant transactions because of its ease of quick payment processing. 

24-Hour Availability: VPA-based transactions are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, including weekends and holidays. There are no time restrictions with this continuous service, so you can begin and end payments whenever it’s most convenient for you. Its adaptability improves the efficiency and ease of managing financial transactions inside the UPI ecosystem, including transfers to friends and merchants.

Bill Payments and Merchant Transactions: Payment options offered by a VPA are more versatile than those of peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions. They offer a convenient and easy-to-use platform for paying bills, making purchases from merchants, and carrying out other financial operations. This flexibility provides a secure and private method of conducting business while also enhancing the user experience.

Benefits of VPA or Virtual Payment Address

  1. Conceals your bank account number: Your VPA can be used to hide your bank account number from prying eyes. You have the option to withhold your bank account number with VPA. Your primary motivation for doing this is to keep your bank accounts—savings and current accounts—secret from prying eyes. In this manner, you can use VPA to mask the actual bank account number while still enabling cashless transfers and payments via UPI apps.
  2. Easy to remember: The VPA is simpler to remember than a lengthy, intricate bank account number. VPA numbers are generally thought to be safe and simple to recall. It will always be easier for people to recall their VPA than their actual or physical account number.
  3. You can change it: You can still switch to a different VPA account, though. It’s very easy to do so, after which you can use the new one. But please be advised that you are unable to unlink a VPA from your bank account once you have done so. Moreover, you are not allowed to link a bank account to more than one VPA number due to bank regulations.
  4. Available 24*7: Your VPA number is now easily accessible to you around the clock. The main advantage of VPA is that it gives you immediate access to account information. As a result, you can get paid by the sources more quickly.
  5. More security: You can simply conduct transactions with UPI from any location at any time. It’s more convenient, quicker, and safer. With your VPA, you can send and receive money instantaneously on a real-time basis. Additionally, compared to other fund transfer methods like RTGS or NEFT, it is more safe.
  6. More user-friendly: You may now quickly and conveniently send cashless payments to your friends, family, kids, and coworkers by using your VPA. In this manner, completing an internet payment won’t take you three days or longer. With the UPI app, sending money is as easy as sharing your bank account information.
  7. Allows to track transactions: You can easily track all of your fund transfer transactions on the UPI app because you have a VPA number. Additionally, you can obtain helpful data like the amount sent, the time and date of the transaction, recipient information, and other pertinent data. 

How Does a Virtual Payment Address Work?

Once your VPA has been created and linked to your bank account, you can use it to send and receive money online using UPI. To send money via a UPI, all you need to do is input the amount, the recipient’s VPA, and an optional note on the UPI app. The following step will ask you to input your UPI PIN, which is a code you created when you first enrolled in the program. Once you input the PIN, the system will complete the transaction and send you a confirmation message. To receive money over UPI, you must provide the sender access to your VPA. When the funds arrive in your account, you will be notified by email or SMS.

How to Gеt a Virtual Payment Address?

To acquire a virtual payment address, you need to follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Download the UPI App and Link Your Bank Account

To bеgin thе procеss, download thе UPI app on your mobilе dеvicе. Make sure you use the mobile number you have on file with your bank to link it to your account. 

Step 2: Verify Your Mobilе Number

Next, you will need to undergo a mobilе number verification process. This procedure contributes to maintaining the security of your account.

Step 3: Complеtе Additional Vеrification

Аftеr thе mobile number verification, you will be promptеd to complеtе an additional round of vеrification. Ensuring the security of your financial transactions requires following this crucial step. Using a grid-based authentication method, responding to a security question, or any other approach the app deems appropriate could all be part of the verification process. 

Step 4: Crеatе Your Uniquе VPA

Oncе you successfully pass thе vеrification procеss, you can procееd to crеatе your VPA. Like with an email address, you can select the ID that you like most. To make sure the name you select is available, the app will verify availability. If so, you will receive permission right away. If the VPA you have in mind isn’t available, just try a different combination. 

Step 5: Approval and Activation

Giving a special VPA will lead to immediate approval. Congratulations, you are now ready to utilize the convenience of UPI paymеnts. 

Conclusion

virtual payment address have developed into a practical and secure online payment option. If you want to learn more about Virtual Payment addresses and how they work, FlexiLoans provides easy and secure online payment choices for business loans! You can up your financial game and participate in the cashless revolution with FlexiLoans.

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