Paytm QR code to allow shopkeepers to accept payments directly into their bank accounts, without any charge

Payments platform **Paytm** on 18 December said its QR code will now allow shopkeepers to accept customer payments directly into their bank accounts at zero percent charge. [caption id=“attachment_3903691” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Reuters[/caption] The company also plans to invest Rs 500 crore in 2018 towards training and awareness building initiatives to expand the reach and acceptance of Paytm QR in the offline merchant community. “The Paytm QR now allows offline merchants to accept unlimited payments directly into their bank accounts at zero percent charge,” Paytm said in a statement. Consumers can scan and pay at the merchant outlets using their preferred payment methods like Paytm, UPI, debit/credit cards and net banking, it added. “Paytm is accepted at millions of large retail chains as well as small stores across the country… With Paytm QR, our merchant partners can now accept payments at zero percent charge and there is no monthly limit on collecting payments from their customers,” Paytm COO Kiran Vasireddy said. Paytm will continue to invest in expanding its payments network to ensure every small and large merchant is empowered with the power of mobile payments, Vasireddy added. Paytm — which counts Softbank, SAIF Partners, Alibaba Group and Ant Financial among its investors — has over 5 million offline merchants who accept payments through Paytm.