What is AEPS and How Travel Agents Can Earn From It (2026)

What is AEPS and how travel agents can earn from it

If you run a travel agency in India, you already know that margins on flight and hotel bookings can be thin. AEPS (Aadhaar Enabled Payment System) is one of the fastest-growing ways for travel agents to add a reliable second income stream — without any extra investment or a separate shop.

In this guide, we explain what AEPS is, how it works, how travel agents across India are earning from it every day, and how you can activate it directly inside your white label travel portal.

Quick Answer: AEPS allows your customers to withdraw cash, check their bank balance, and transfer money using only their Aadhaar number and fingerprint — no ATM card needed. As a travel agent offering AEPS through the Rayds travel and fintech portal, you earn a commission on every transaction processed.

What is AEPS?

AEPS stands for Aadhaar Enabled Payment System. It is a payment service launched by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) that allows bank customers to carry out basic banking transactions using their Aadhaar number linked to their bank account.

Unlike traditional banking, AEPS does not require a debit card, PIN, or even a smartphone. The customer simply provides their Aadhaar number and authenticates the transaction with their fingerprint on a biometric device. It is one of several banking and fintech services available inside the Rayds portal.

What transactions can be done through AEPS?

  • Cash withdrawal from any Aadhaar-linked bank account
  • Cash deposit into any Aadhaar-linked bank account
  • Balance enquiry
  • Mini statement (last 5 transactions)
  • Aadhaar to Aadhaar fund transfer
  • Aadharpay — merchant payments using Aadhaar authentication

How Does AEPS Work for Travel Agents?

Travel agents who have AEPS activated on their white label portal act as a Business Correspondent (BC) or micro-ATM point for their local customers. Here is the step-by-step process:

Step What Happens
1. Customer visits your shop Customer wants to withdraw ₹2,000 but has no ATM card
2. Agent opens AEPS on portal Enter customer's Aadhaar number and select bank
3. Biometric authentication Customer places finger on biometric device to approve
4. Transaction is processed Amount is debited from customer's bank account instantly
5. Agent pays customer cash Agent hands over the cash and earns commission

The commission is credited directly to the agent's wallet in the Rayds portal admin panel — no waiting, no paperwork.

How Much Can Travel Agents Earn from AEPS?

AEPS commission varies by provider, transaction type, and volume. Below are typical commission ranges for agents using the Rayds partner network in India:

Transaction Type Commission per Transaction
Cash Withdrawal ₹5 – ₹15 per transaction
Balance Enquiry ₹1 – ₹3 per enquiry
Mini Statement ₹1 – ₹2 per request
Aadhaar to Aadhaar Transfer Up to 1% of transaction value
Cash Deposit (where available) ₹5 – ₹20 per transaction

A busy travel agent processing 50 AEPS cash withdrawals per day can earn an additional ₹250 – ₹750 per day in passive commission on top of travel bookings. That adds up to ₹7,500 – ₹22,500 per month from a single add-on service.

Why is AEPS Especially Valuable for Travel Agents?

Travel agents are perfectly positioned to offer AEPS because they already have:

  • A registered shop or office that customers trust
  • Daily foot traffic from travellers and local residents
  • An existing relationship with their local community
  • A branded travel portal or system they already use for bookings

Adding AEPS means the same customer who comes in to book a bus ticket or flight can also withdraw cash — and you earn from both transactions. In semi-urban and rural areas especially, where ATM coverage is limited, AEPS agents are in very high demand.

Combined with other utility services like mobile recharge, electricity bill payments, and DTH recharge, AEPS turns your travel counter into a full-service neighbourhood digital hub.

What Equipment Do You Need for AEPS?

To offer AEPS transactions, you need just two things:

  • A biometric fingerprint scanner — A certified Mantra MFS100 or Morpho device (costs ₹1,500 – ₹3,000 and is a one-time purchase)
  • An AEPS-enabled portal — Such as the Rayds white label travel and fintech portal, which includes AEPS, AEPS cash deposit, Aadharpay, and Micro ATM services pre-integrated and ready to use

No bank licence is required. Rayds handles all the backend compliance, settlement, and NPCI connectivity for you. See the full list of portal features here.

AEPS vs Micro ATM — What is the Difference?

Both AEPS and Micro ATM are available inside the Rayds portal. Here is how they compare:

Feature AEPS Micro ATM
Authentication method Aadhaar + fingerprint Debit card + PIN
Card required No Yes
Bank account required Aadhaar-linked account Any bank account with debit card
Best for Rural and semi-urban customers Urban customers with debit cards
Available in Rayds portal Yes Yes

Offering both AEPS and Micro ATM through your Rayds portal means you can serve all types of customers regardless of whether they have a debit card.

How to Activate AEPS on Your Travel Portal

If you are already a Rayds partner, AEPS is available directly inside your admin panel under the Banking Services section. To get started:

  • Complete your KYC verification inside the portal
  • Purchase or connect a certified biometric device (Mantra, Morpho, or Startek)
  • Activate AEPS from your service dashboard — no separate registration needed
  • Start transacting and earning commission from day one

If you do not yet have a travel portal, contact Rayds to launch your branded travel + fintech portal with AEPS, Micro ATM, money transfer, utility payments, and 40+ other services — all under your own brand, live within 2 hours.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. AEPS is fully regulated by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Travel agents offering AEPS through a licensed provider like Rayds operate as Business Correspondents, which is a legal and recognised model in India. Learn more about our banking services here.

A certified biometric fingerprint scanner such as the Mantra MFS100 or Morpho device costs between ₹1,500 and ₹3,000 and is a one-time purchase. No recurring hardware costs are involved. Once connected to your Rayds travel portal, it is ready to use immediately.

Yes. When you offer AEPS through a licensed aggregator like Rayds, you do not need your own banking licence. Rayds holds the required NPCI certifications and handles all regulatory compliance, settlements, and reconciliation on your behalf. Get in touch to know more.

Yes. Rayds offers AEPS, Aadharpay, Micro ATM, and cash deposit services pre-integrated inside the travel and utility portal. All banking services are available from the same dashboard you use for flight, hotel, and bus bookings — no separate login or system is needed.

AEPS works with all major Indian banks including SBI, PNB, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, HDFC, ICICI, Axis Bank, and hundreds of cooperative and regional rural banks — as long as the customer's Aadhaar number is linked to that bank account. Contact us for the full list of supported banks on the Rayds platform.

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