Initially, WhatsApp has added a list of seven backgrounds from which you can choose the most relevant one when sending money to your loved ones. There are also few theme-based backgrounds, including the one that you can choose specifically when sending money to your sister on Rakshabandhan (coming on Sunday, August 22). WhatsApp has also added backgrounds that you can use for sending payments on birthdays, holidays, and for travel.
You can select a payment background when you're making a new payment on WhatsApp by tapping the backgrounds icon on the 'Send Payment' screen. Once you tap that icon, the app will show you the available list of backgrounds at the bottom from where you can pick the one that matches your payment theme. You can also add a note alongside the background to describe the reason for your payment or highlight your expression.
Once done, the recipient will be able to see the background along with the amount of the payment you have made.
“With Payments Backgrounds, our effort is to bring excitement to everyday payments through WhatsApp and enable our users to express themselves if they wish, through a range of emotive themes denoting celebrations, affection, warmth or fun,” said Manesh Mahatme, Director of WhatsApp Payments, in a prepared statement. “We believe that sending and receiving money is so much more than just a transaction. Often it's the stories behind the exchanges that are priceless.”
WhatsApp launched its payments service after months of testing in November last year. It started with five banking partners, though the list later reduced the partners list to four banks that are namely Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and the State Bank of India (SBI) — as the service silently removed Jio Payments Bank from the list.
At present, WhatsApp Payments that is based on Unified Payment Interface (UPI) enables transactions with over 227 banks.
