In an exclusive interaction with Finance Outlook India, Vinay Singh, Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer at Olyv, delves into the evolving landscape of digital credit management in India. Drawing on his extensive experience in fintech product innovation and scalable digital platform development, he outlines how India's digital-first generation is revolutionizing credit behavior—from proactive credit monitoring and fraud prevention to the integration of AI-driven insights and personalized financial guidance.
Vinay Singh also shares his expert perspective on the future of credit literacy platforms, emphasizing the role of continuous engagement, real-time analytics, and data-driven personalization in creating a more transparent, accessible, and user-centric credit ecosystem.
Are digital-first users now taking charge of their credit journeys earlier than previous generations?
Absolutely. We are seeing a generational shift in how credit is approached. Young Indians today are not waiting for major milestones like a home or car loan to think about their credit score; they are getting proactive much earlier. A significant share of our monthly active users falls in the 21–35 age group, and they are using tools to monitor their credit scores, set up fraud alerts, and act on building and monitoring their credit score before applying for a loan.
Where earlier generations discovered credit scores too late, usually after a rejection, this generation is treating credit health like fitness: something you track, improve, and maintain. With monthly credit score refreshes, WhatsApp updates, and actionable insights delivered regularly, users are embedding credit management into their everyday financial planning.
With rising digital credit adoption, is there a corresponding rise in credit fraud and misinformation?
Unfortunately, yes, and it's something we take seriously. The rise of digital lending has been matched by an alarming surge in fraud: from deepfake customer service scams and phishing emails to unauthorized PAN misuse through fake lending apps. On top of that, misinformation from unverified "finfluencers" is leading to widespread myths, like guaranteed instant credit score fixes or zero-risk loan stacking strategies.
To counter this, we have embedded fraud prevention into the core experience of our platform. Our users get real-time alerts for new credit enquiries, loan account openings, or suspicious changes to their credit profile. In a world where scams are getting more sophisticated, we believe the best defense is a combination of smart detection tools and smarter users.
Can platforms that bundle credit score tracking, fraud alerts, and improvement plans, become the new norm for credit-conscious borrowers?
Not only is it becoming the norm; it's already what today's users expect. The old model of juggling multiple apps for credit reports, fraud alerts, and financial advice is fast becoming obsolete. Users want an integrated platform that handles everything securely, intelligently, and conveniently.
That's exactly what our platform delivers. We have seen 80% growth in users opting for our bundled offering, which combines credit score building & tracking, fraud alerts, loan management, and dispute management. What makes this approach so powerful is the data synergy: users can monitor how their actions—like paying off a loan or reducing credit card utilization—impact their score, while simultaneously being protected against identity theft or unauthorized activity.
This holistic model mirrors how digital-first users consume services today—on-demand, interconnected, and insight-rich. Just like OTT platforms reshaped content, we believe we are reshaping how Indians manage credit.
Also Read: The First Salary Trap: How India's Young Earners Can Avoid Lifestyle Inflation
How are users responding to credit management platforms—do they see value in proactively managing their financial reputation?
Users now understand that their credit profile is a long-term financial asset—one that can unlock better interest rates, faster loan approvals, and broader financial access. And they are willing to invest in protecting and improving it.
What's shifted is the mindset. Earlier, credit tracking was seen as a reactive chore—something you did after facing a rejection. Now, users see it as part of their financial hygiene. Much like they subscribe to fitness or productivity tools, they are subscribing to our platform for real-time score updates, fraud protection, and improvement plans.
What role are fintech platforms playing in turning credit literacy into a habit?
Fintech platforms are helping credit literacy evolve from a one-time seminar into a daily practice. With our platform, we have moved beyond static reports and built a system of continuous engagement through real-time updates, WhatsApp nudges, and contextual education delivered at the right time.
Every credit refresh, every alert, every tip becomes a micro-learning moment. Users are not memorizing jargon; they are seeing how credit utilization or repayment behavior affects their score in real time. And because our recommendations are personalized, users are not overwhelmed with generic advice, they are guided by insights tailored to their specific financial profile.
Just like people track their steps or screen time daily, we are building a future where tracking credit health becomes second nature.
About the Author
Vinay Singh, Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer at Olyv, leads product innovation and technology to make financial services more accessible for India’s underbanked population. With over eight years of experience as Director of Engineering at Kiwi Inc., where he built and scaled Android applications for 100 million+ monthly active users, Vinay brings deep expertise in creating user-friendly, scalable digital products. An IIT Bombay alumnus (B.Tech & M.Tech in Computer Science), he combines technical excellence with user-centric design to drive Olyv’s mission of advancing financial inclusion through secure, data-driven, and intuitive fintech solutions.
