UPI in US Soon? Zelle Bridge Could Make Remittances Easier for NRIs
A pilot linking US-based Zelle with India's UPI could make cross-border payments easier for NRIs and Indian professionals sending money to India.
India's Unified Payments Interface could soon become available to users in the United States through a proposed link with Zelle, potentially making cross-border payments easier for non-resident Indians and Indian professionals living and working there.
Bank of America is working on a pilot project to connect its US-based Zelle payment network with India's UPI. The development was highlighted by the Indian Embassy in the US after reports said the project was being developed with Early Warning Services, the operator of Zelle.
Early Warning Services announced in June that India would be the first country where US consumers could use Zelle to make payments, with initial availability expected before the end of 2026. The company said India was a natural starting point because it is the world's largest recipient of remittances and an important corridor for millions of US consumers who regularly send money there.
The proposed connection could be particularly significant for Indian-Americans, NRIs and Indian professionals who regularly transfer money to relatives and friends in India. The US has emerged as the largest source of remittances to India, with the country receiving $135.46 billion in remittances during 2024-25, including around $37 billion from the US.
A Zelle-UPI connection could give users an additional digital route for sending money internationally while allowing them to remain within the banking platforms they already use. If the pilot progresses beyond its initial stage, the service could combine Zelle's existing user experience with UPI's digital payment infrastructure.
Bank of America has also been expanding its real-time cross-border payment capabilities. The bank has identified India as an important market because of its digital infrastructure, expanding role in global trade and its own presence in the country.
The proposed Zelle-UPI bridge is part of a broader expansion of UPI beyond India. UPI is already available in multiple countries, allowing Indian users to make certain overseas payments directly through their bank accounts. A US connection would further expand its international reach.
Remittances are expected to remain a key focus of the Zelle-UPI pilot. For customers, a successful integration could provide another option for transferring funds between the US and India, with greater speed and convenience compared with some traditional international payment processes.
UPI is operated by the National Payments Corporation of India, while Zelle is operated by Early Warning Services, which is owned by a group of major US financial institutions, including Bank of America, Capital One, JPMorgan Chase, PNC Bank, Truist, US Bank and Wells Fargo.
The proposed integration has also generated interest among users who see the combination of Zelle and UPI as potentially making routine transfers to India more convenient. However, the project remains at the pilot stage, with wider availability dependent on its eventual rollout.
