Kotak Bank urges customers to use official app after UPI balance glitch report

Kotak Mahindra Bank has advised customers to check balances only through its
official mobile banking app or net banking, after reports claimed a Delhi user
saw an unusually long, 37-digit balance via a third-party UPI app.

What Kotak Bank said

The bank clarified that suggestions of an “unusually large” account balance were incorrect.
It urged customers to verify account information using Kotak’s secure digital channels to
avoid confusion from third-party interfaces.

How UPI linking works

Third-party UPI apps allow users to link bank accounts by verifying the mobile number
registered with the bank and setting a UPI PIN. These apps connect to the customer’s bank
through APIs provided by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

Virtual payment address and request flow

Each linked account receives a Virtual Payment Address (VPA), which acts as a
proxy for the actual account number. For balance inquiries or payments, the UPI app sends a
request to NPCI’s central switch, which routes it to the bank. The bank processes the request
and returns real-time data back to the app.

Why the advisory matters

Using the official Kotak app or net banking reduces the risk of misreads or presentation
glitches in third-party apps and ensures customers view accurate, bank-validated balances.

Disclaimer: This article summarizes a bank advisory and general UPI process details.
Users should follow their bank’s official guidance for account security and updates.