Learn about smart routing with extra UPI IDs

Learn about UPI

Unified Payment Interface (UPI) is an instant payment system that helps when you transfer funds between 2 parties through a mobile platform. To add a bank account to Google Pay, your bank should work with UPI.

Why you need a UPI ID

As a UPI user, you have to create a unique identifier called UPI ID, which is associated with your bank account. This makes it easier to send and receive money instantly on your bank account. You don’t have to share your account number or other details.

With Google Pay, your UPI ID is generated through payment service provider banks, like:

• SBI
• HDFC
• Axis
• ICICI

How smart routing with extra UPI IDs works

Transactions may take longer or fail because of issues with UPI payment servers. An additional UPI ID improves your payment success rate because it routes your transaction through the server which will ensure a successful payment.  

For example, let’s say that you need to get to the office from home in your car, and there are four different routes that you can take. Your usual route is blocked due to severe traffic congestion, so you pick any of the other three available routes.

Additional UPI IDs with different banks provide different routes to make transactions. If any of the UPI ID routes aren't available, Google Pay will choose another route for your payment, to ensure that you have a smooth payment experience.

How many UPI IDs can I have

You can add up to four UPI IDs for your bank account. You can have multiple UPI IDs for the same bank account. This lessens payment delays or failure and is secured by Google Pay.

How to create extra UPI IDs

There are ways to create an additional UPI ID:

• When you set up a new account with Google Pay, you can create more than one UPI ID.
• When a payment that you made has issues or fails, you may see a prompt to add new UPI IDs to your existing bank account.
• Learn how to create a new UPI ID.

Tip: To activate UPI IDs, Google Pay sends an SMS on your behalf to partner banks. Standard SMS charges apply.

Reactivate a bank account after you log into Google Pay

If you log out of Google Pay, your bank accounts become inactive. Once you log back in, you’ll be notified to reactivate your bank account.

Any extra UPI IDs that you created before will be reactivated too.

If you didn't have extra UPI IDs before, you have the option to add one or more for a better payment success rate. This is optional and you can continue to use Google Pay with your original UPI ID.

Changes in how payments are made

There are no changes. You’ll still transact from your bank account as usual. If you have extra UPI IDs, your transaction can be routed through an alternative UPI ID if there are unavailable payment routes.

Common questions

What’s the difference between a UPI ID & a bank account?

A UPI ID is an identifier of your bank account that allows you to send and receive money directly from your bank account.

If I have a bank account with SBI, why does my UPI ID end with @okhdfcbank?

In this scenario, HDFC is the payment service provider bank that allows you to plug into the UPI ecosystem to send and receive money. If your bank account is with SBI, your UPI ID can end with @oksbi, @okhdfcbank, @okaxis or @okicici. You can continue to send and receive money through your SBI bank account.

If I create multiple UPI IDs, where will my money go?

Your transactions are routed through the UPI ID that’s available for UPI payments at that time. If a payment fails because of these issues, we’ll automatically route it through any additional UPI IDs that you’ve created.

Will I be charged when I create a new UPI ID?

If you register a new UPI ID, you’ll need to send an SMS to the payment service provider bank.

• For Android devices, this happens in the background.
• For iOS devices, tap Send.

For each UPI ID that you register, you’ll be charged the standard SMS rates.