Simplifying Payments for Bond Investments in India: Cashfree’s OBPP Solution

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India has come a long way from the time when people would put their savings into real estate or fixed deposits. Digital platforms and accessibility have transformed how people perceive investments, with 110Mn Indians taking to digital investments in just the last 4 years. They are exploring other investment products, including online bonds – and with online platforms making it easier to access this investment instrument, the demand has increased to the point where the regulator, SEBI has introduced a regulatory framework to bring Online Bond Platform Providers (OBPP) under its purview.

This initiative by the regulator to treat OBPPs as other regulated investment entities recognizes these online bonds and platforms, giving individual, non-institutional investors the ability to access these products in a seamless, user-friendly manner while being secured in having their rights and interests protected. Additionally, SEBI’s approach of treating OBPPs as brokers and necessitating that they get a license will mean more stringent KYC norms, smoother and faster settlements, and easier dispute resolution for customers.

Understanding the SEBI Circular

The SEBI circular outlines several key requirements for OBPPs to ensure transparency, security, and investor protection:

Registration and licensing: OBPPs must register with SEBI as stock brokers, specifically in the debt segment of the stock exchanges, and obtain an OBPP license. This registration ensures that all OBPPs operate within a regulated framework, promoting trust and reliability.
Grievance redressal: OBPPs should obtain authentication from the SEBI Complaints Redress System (SCORES) to ensure customer satisfaction and effective grievance resolution. They must establish a well-defined mechanism to proactively handle grievances during their operations, ensuring a responsive and investor-friendly approach.
KYC compliance: The Know Your Customer (KYC) process will be streamlined to comply with SEBI’s requirements. Platforms must ensure full compliance with these KYC norms, enhancing the security and legitimacy of investor transactions.
Listed bonds only: OBPPs are allowed to showcase only bonds that are listed, to be listed, or issued by the government. They are prohibited from showcasing unlisted debt securities on their platforms, ensuring that all offered investments meet stringent regulatory standards.
Order routing: All orders must be routed through the Request for Quote (RFQ) platform of recognised Stock Exchanges. This measure ensures transparency and seamless execution of orders, fostering a fair and efficient trading environment.
Settlement mechanism: OBPPs must ensure that all orders are routed and settled through the stock exchange mechanism (i.e., ICCL/NSCCL). This requirement standardises settlement processes and mitigates risks associated with off-exchange transactions.
Exclusive focus on bonds: OBPPs are restricted to offering bonds only and are not permitted to offer any other financial securities. This focus maintains the integrity and specialisation of OBPP platforms, providing investors with a clear and dedicated bond trading experience.

Current Bond Infrastructure and Workflow

When an investor places a bond order through an Online Bonds Platform Provider (OBPP), exchanges such as NSE and BSE require Third Party Verification (TPV) before approving the order. This verification ensures that the bank account used for the payment matches the account provided during the KYC process, thereby maintaining security and compliance.

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has facilitated various online payment methods, including UPI, Net Banking, and offline Bank Transfers (NEFT/RTGS/IMPS), to cater to diverse investor preferences. Traditionally, all these operations were managed by the NSE itself, with payments routed through the NSE’s in-house payment gateway. Once the bank account verification is complete, the payment is accepted, and the bonds are then assigned to the investor through the OBPP platform.

While functional, this infrastructure has posed several challenges, prompting the need for a more efficient and transparent system.

Challenges Posed by Current Workflow for OBPPs

OBPPs encounter multiple significant challenges in the current payment processing system:

Operational inefficiency:

Multi-step dependency: NSE handled the entire transaction process, requiring OBPPs to depend on it for updates and problem resolution. This dependency on NSE’s internal payment gateway often led to delays.
Issue resolution delays: When payments failed or encountered issues, OBPPs had to wait for NSE to process and update these issues, which involved awaiting responses from NSE’s in-house payments provider. This caused considerable delays in resolving payment-related issues.
Market debarment risk: Any delays or failures in processing payments could temporarily bar investors from the market, leading to potential financial losses and dissatisfaction among investors.

Lack of transparency:

Real-Time visibility: The absence of real-time visibility into payment statuses meant OBPPs and investors were often in the dark about the current state of transactions. This lack of transparency made it difficult for OBPPs to provide timely updates and reassurances to their clients.
Uncertainty and trust issues: Not knowing the exact status of their payments, investors often felt uncertain and mistrustful of the platform. This uncertainty affected the overall customer experience and confidence in the OBPPs.
Complicated issue resolution: Without clear information on why a payment failed, resolving issues became more complicated and time-consuming for OBPPs, adding to operational burdens and potentially causing investor dissatisfaction.

Transaction inefficiencies:

Limited operating hours: Transactions and settlements were confined to market hours (9 AM to 5 PM). This restriction meant that any transactions initiated outside of these hours had to wait until the market opened, delaying the investment process.
Batch processing: Payments were processed in batches during market hours, leading to potential bottlenecks and further delays, especially during high-volume trading periods.
Operational rigidities: The rigid transactional window did not align with the 24/7 nature of digital financial markets, limiting the flexibility and responsiveness of OBPPs in handling investor transactions.

Solution: Cashfree Payments’ OBPP Solution

Cashfree Payments offers a comprehensive solution for Online Bond Platform Providers (OBPPs) to process transactions seamlessly while adhering to regulatory guidelines. This solution incorporates advanced features to enhance security, compliance, and operational efficiency. Here’s a detailed look at how Cashfree’s OBPP solution addresses the industry’s needs.

In-built Third Party Validation (TPV)

Enhanced compliance: Our solution includes built-in TPV to ensure that transactions are only processed from the customer’s registered bank account. This feature significantly enhances security and ensures compliance with regulatory requirements.
Verification: Once the transaction is initiated, the system automatically verifies the bank account details against the KYC-submitted account, reducing manual errors and fraud.

Flexible Transaction Handling

24/7 processing: Unlike traditional systems that operate only during market hours, Cashfree’s OBPP solution allows transactions to be processed around the clock. This flexibility ensures that investors can initiate transactions anytime, enhancing user convenience and satisfaction.
Real-time processing: Transactions are processed in real-time, ensuring that investors receive timely confirmations and can make investment decisions without delay.

Managed Settlements

Scheduled settlements: OBPPs can specify the date for fund settlements with the exchange. Cashfree handles the settlement process during market hours on the specified date. Once the settlement is processed, Cashfree sends an MIS file to NSE in the required format.
APIs: Cashfree provides APIs for the platform to pass the RFQ ID/CBRICS ID and the settlement date so we can handle the settlement of funds to the NSE on the specified date and send an MIS file to the NSE post-settlement.

Simplified MIS Reporting

Comprehensive reports: Cashfree Payments generates detailed Management Information System (MIS) reports sent to NSE after settlements. These reports provide a clear and accurate record of all transactions and settlements, aiding financial reconciliation and audit processes.
Customisable reporting: The reporting system is flexible and can be customised to meet the specific needs of OBPPs, providing insights and analytics to drive better business decisions.

Easy Integrations

API integration: Cashfree’s robust APIs facilitate seamless integration with existing platforms and tools used by OBPPs.
Developer support: We offer extensive developer support, including documentation and technical assistance, to help OBPPs integrate our solution effortlessly and optimise its functionality.

Additional Features

Compliance monitoring: Our solution continuously monitors transactions for compliance with SEBI and NSE guidelines, providing alerts and updates to ensure ongoing adherence to regulatory standards.
Scalability: Designed to handle high transaction volumes, Cashfree’s OBPP solution effortlessly grows with your business.
Customer support: We provide dedicated customer support to assist OBPPs with issues or queries, ensuring a smooth and responsive experience.

Transformative Impact on OBPP Operations

OBPPs like Grip Invest have already adopted Cashfree’s solution and experienced significant benefits. Key outcomes include:

Secure and compliant transactions: The in-built TPV feature ensures that all transactions are processed through verified bank accounts, enhancing security and regulatory compliance.
Faster issue resolution: By reducing dependency on NSE’s in-house processes, OBPPs can address payment-related issues more quickly, improving service quality for investors.
Enhanced visibility: Cashfree’s solution gives OBPPs complete control and visibility over their transactions and settlements, leading to better operational oversight and transparency.

Discover the Complete Solution

Explore how Cashfree’s OBPP solution can revolutionise your bond investment transactions. Book a demo today to see how our solution can benefit your business.