Women Entrepreneur to dive deeper into financial adoption, says DBS Bank study

Indian female entrepreneurs are emerging as a country’s most digitally engaged cohort, with new research from DBS Bank India and Deloitte India revealing that those women are not just adopting digital tools they are actively reshaping how business finance works in the country.

Released ahead on MSME Day 2026 the second edition of DBS Bank India women and finance series title “Access, Adoption and Trust offers one of the most detailed picture of yet how women across India are engaging in digital payments, banking , credit and investment platforms. Conducted with partnership with Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP- the study draws the response from 1,342 women spanning North, South, East and West India, capturing financial behavior of three distinct groups of Female entrepreneurs, High-Net-Worth (HNW) women and rural women earners.

Entrepreneurs lead the digital charge

Among the report central finding a clear hierarchy of digital engagement – and women entrepreneurs sit at the top. The study found that female entrepreneurs are the most active users of digital payment tools reported by the surveyed. “Digital Payment tools are the most widely adopted, approx. 84% of female entrepreneurs.” UPI, India’s now- ubiquitous payments rail, tells a similarly compelling story. Usage stood at  72% among women entrepreneurs., 77% among HNW women and 54% among rural women earners, underlining just how deeply real time payment infrastructure has embedded into everyday commerce across income and geographies.

Beyond the payments, the credit and investment

While payments adoption is nearly mainstream, the reports points to a more uneven picture once the lens shifts to credit and investment. According to the findings 38% of female entrepreneur use loan and credit platforms, while 29% use brokerage platforms. Among HNW women surveyed, “28% are actively using brokerage platforms for their investments, reflecting growing comfort and proficiency in using digital investment tools. “

What’s driving adoption

The report frames this shift as more than a technology story- it is a story about how women are running their business. Speaking on the findings Divyesh Dalal, Managing Director and Country Head, Global Transaction service, corporate banking, Financial Institutions and SME at DBS Bank India, said: “the findings of this report highlight the shift in the way women are engaging with their finances. He noted that among female entrepreneurs, digital tools are taking place of traditional methods in business management, supporting everything from payments, credit and payroll to customer acquisition and future planning. He added that trust, convenience, and accessibility remain key force driving this adoption.”

He also added, “As digital adoption deepens, entrepreneurs are increasingly seeking solutions that enhance operational efficiency and support their growth ambitions”- and that sustaining this momentum will require going beyond traditional banking to build connected ecosystem that support entrepreneurs at every stage of their business journey.

Credit card usage is also leveraging, with “50% of the female entrepreneurs surveyed report using personal credit cards frequently. “travel- related rewards, hotel offers, lounge access and travel insurance are the most preferred benefits, “cited by 65% of respondents” among both female entrepreneurs and HNW women.

Spending patterns show female entrepreneurs focusing on “people, growth and technology,” with 65% on staff salaries and contractor payments, 53% on marketing and customer acquisition, and 37% on software and technological tools.

The road ahead

The findings arrive at a moment when India’s MSME sector- a significant share of which is women led – is increasingly viewed as central to the country’s next phase of economic growth. As digital infrastructure continues to mature and trust in digital banking deepens, the report suggests that India’s women entrepreneurs are well positioned to lead the next wave of financial adoption- not simply as users of digital tools, but as a driving force shaping how those tools evolve.