About the study
This edition builds on the first report in the ‘Women and Finance’ series 2026, Money Matters: Mindsets, Financial Agency and Behaviour Across Life and Career Stages, which examined the financial autonomy of women earners, key financial drivers and life goals, preferences for engaging with financial institutions, retirement planning and long-term financial preparedness.
Highlights
of female entrepreneurs surveyed use digital payment tools, followed by loan and credit platforms (38%) and brokerage platforms (29%).
One in two female entrepreneurs uses a personal credit card frequently (daily or a few times a week).
UPI has emerged as one of the leading payment methods across cohorts and is used by 77% of HNW women, 72% of female entrepreneurs, and 54% of the rural women earners surveyed.
Among the credit card benefits assessed in the survey, travel-related rewards emerged as the most preferred option among female earners in urban India. Nearly two-thirds of both female entrepreneurs (65%) and HNW women (65%) selected travel perks over other benefits.
“The findings highlight an encouraging shift in the way women are engaging with their finances. Among female entrepreneurs, digital tools are becoming increasingly integral to business management, supporting everything from payments, credit and payroll to customer acquisition and future planning. The study also underscores the importance of trust, convenience, and accessibility in driving digital adoption.”
“As digital adoption deepens, entrepreneurs are increasingly seeking solutions that enhance operational efficiency and support their growth ambitions. Sustaining this momentum requires going beyond traditional banking to create connected ecosystems that help entrepreneurs at every stage of their business journey. By deepening our understanding of this segment and continuing to innovate in response to evolving needs, we aim to help female entrepreneurs build and scale their businesses”
Scaling through digitalisation
Digitalisation has transformed the way we operate. Today, our service teams, sales teams and offices across the country are connected through a centralised digital platform. The ability to access information in real time has significantly improved productivity while helping us scale our operations across India.
Banking without boundaries
Digital banking capabilities are extremely important for us. We need the ability to approve payments, manage workflows and keep the business running without delays, irrespective of where we are.
Built for modern banking
DBS IDEAL has enabled us to manage our banking operations seamlessly from anywhere in the world. The convenience, security and ease of use have made a meaningful difference to the way we manage our business.
Powered by data
Technology and data are playing a critical role in our growth. We have invested heavily in digitising our operations and recording data across the value chain. We are leveraging AI-driven analytics and developing technology platforms that help us track products from production all the way to the end consumer.
Built to Scale
As businesses grow, founders should be spending their time on strategy and execution, not on routine banking processes. Ease of use, reliability and integration into day-to-day workflows are all critical considerations.
Banking, Simplified
DBS has helped simplify many of our day-to-day operations through its digital banking capabilities. The DBS IDEAL platform has enabled our teams to manage transactions efficiently, access information easily and integrate banking processes seamlessly into our workflows. It has helped reduce operational complexity and allowed us to focus more of our energy on growing the business.
Impact Beyond Business
Farm2Fam employs more than 200 women in rural India, and we expect that number to grow significantly in the coming years. Many of these women have become financially independent for the first time. What excites us most is the long-term impact. When women earn, entire families and communities benefit.
