Who actually pays, and when: DSA payouts explained

Six things to check before you trust a DSA partner

The rate, before the first file

Payout is set per lender and per product. A partner who will not name your rate until after disbursal decides it after the fact.

Finsamudra · We confirm your rate before you place your first file.

Paid on disbursal, on the disbursed amount

Not on the sanctioned amount, and not “on login”. Ask which figure the percentage is applied to.

Finsamudra · Paid on disbursal, as a share of the amount disbursed.

Every case visible to you

You should be able to see where each referral stands, not learn about a disbursal from your customer.

Finsamudra · Once you are onboarded, you get a partner login where you follow each referral and see the expected commission as soon as a case is disbursed.

TDS deducted and accounted for

Commission is subject to TDS. A partner that deducts it should give you the certificate, so you can claim it.

Finsamudra · TDS on commission will be deducted on every payout, as the law requires, and we explain how it applies to you before your first one.

No fee to join, and no exclusivity

You are bringing the business. A joining fee or a lock-in means the partner earns from you before you earn from them.

Finsamudra · Free to join. Keep working with the DSAs and lenders you already work with.

Regulated lenders only

Your customer’s loan should come from a bank or NBFC regulated by the RBI, and the commission should come from that lender, never from the borrower.

Finsamudra · Files are placed only with RBI-regulated banks and NBFCs, and your commission comes from the lender side. We do not lend.

What we do not publish yet: a fixed number of days from disbursal to payout. It depends on the lender’s cycle, and we would rather tell you the real figure for your lender before your first file than print one that is wrong for half of them. The programme currently takes personal-loan referrals.

Payout questions DSAs ask

How do I choose the best loan DSA partner?

Judge a partner on whether it will pay, not on the highest percentage it quotes. Before you send a file, get your rate in writing, confirm you are paid on the disbursed amount, ask to see each case’s status, ask how TDS is handled, and refuse any joining fee or exclusivity. The six checks above are the full list, with our own answer to each.

What is the usual DSA payout time, and which partner pays the fastest?

No partner can pay you before its lender pays it, unless it fronts the money itself. Speed comes from the lender’s payout cycle and from how cleanly your files reach the monthly disbursal report. Ask any partner which lenders they place with, when each one pays, and whether you can see your cases while you wait.

How do I know a DSA partner will actually pay me?

Get your rate before the first file, check that you are paid on the disbursed amount, ask to see each case’s status, and ask how TDS is deducted and certified. A partner who cannot answer those four before you start is the risk, whatever its payout percentage.

What is the best DSA payout on a personal loan?

Personal-loan referrals in India typically pay 0.5% to 1.5% of the disbursed amount. The rate depends on the lender, the product and the volume you bring. A higher figure paid late, or on files that never disburse, is worth less than a lower one paid on time.

Why is my DSA payout delayed?

Usually because the case is missing from, or does not match, the lender’s monthly disbursal report, or because the lender has not yet paid the DSA above you. Ask your partner which of the two it is.

Should I pay a fee to become a DSA partner?

No. The lender pays the commission. A partner that charges you to join, or asks you to collect a fee from the borrower, is earning from the wrong side of the deal.