To create UPI ID in SBI, use either the YONO SBI app or BHIM SBI Pay, the bank’s two official UPI options. Both let you choose an ID ending in @sbi, link your State Bank of India account and set a UPI PIN. You can also link an SBI account to Google Pay, PhonePe or Paytm, but then the ID uses that app’s handle instead of @sbi.
This guide is for SBI savings and current account holders who want to send and receive money through UPI. It covers both SBI apps step by step, what you need before you start, how to pick a good ID, the limits that apply, and the errors people hit most often, with fixes for each.
Quick overview
| Item | YONO SBI | BHIM SBI Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Who it suits | SBI customers who already use YONO | Anyone who wants a light UPI-only app |
| Login needed | YONO user ID / MPIN | SMS verification |
| UPI handle | @sbi | @sbi |
| Where to start | YONO Pay > BHIM UPI | App home after registration |
| UPI PIN | Debit card or Aadhaar OTP if offered | Debit card or Aadhaar OTP if offered |
| Cost | Free | Free |
What you need
- An active SBI savings or current account.
- The mobile number registered with SBI, active in the same phone.
- An SBI debit card for setting the UPI PIN, unless the app offers Aadhaar OTP for your account. No card? See create UPI ID without debit card.
- Internet banking or YONO login details if you use YONO.
- A working internet connection and enough SMS balance if your plan needs it, because the app verifies your number by SMS.
How to create UPI ID in SBI using YONO
- Log in to the YONO SBI app.
- Open YONO Pay and select BHIM UPI.
- Tap Create/Retrieve UPI Profile.
- Select your SBI-registered mobile number and verify the OTP.
- Choose State Bank of India as the bank.
- Type the UPI ID you want, or pick one of the suggestions. It will end in @sbi.
- Set a security question and answer. If you have more than one SBI account, choose the primary one.
- Confirm. A message shows that the UPI ID is created.
If you have not set a UPI PIN for the account before, the app asks you to set it with your debit card details and an OTP.
How to create UPI ID in SBI with BHIM SBI Pay
- Install BHIM SBI Pay from the Play Store or App Store.
- Complete SMS verification with your SBI-registered number.
- Create your Virtual Payment Address (UPI ID). Enter a name or number you want before @sbi and check that it is available.
- Enter your name and email ID.
- Pick and answer a security question.
- Select your bank account and tap Register.
- Set the UPI PIN if prompted.
A real example
Ramesh Kumar has an SBI savings account in Muzaffarpur and already uses YONO for balance checks. He opens YONO Pay, taps BHIM UPI, verifies his number and types rameshkumar as his ID. It is taken, so he tries rameshkumar.mzp and gets rameshkumar.mzp@sbi. Because he never set a UPI PIN before, YONO asks for the last 6 digits and expiry of his debit card, then an OTP. Five minutes later he can receive money from anyone on any UPI app.
Choosing a good SBI UPI ID
The part before @sbi can use letters, numbers or both. A few practical points:
- Use a name-based ID like rameshkumar@sbi instead of your mobile number. NPCI’s 2026 privacy circular pushes apps to make non-mobile IDs the default, and it keeps your number private.
- Keep it short and easy to spell over the phone.
- If your first choice is taken, add a number or a short place name at the end.
- Avoid special characters other than a dot.
SBI UPI ID on other apps
| App | Typical handle for SBI account |
|---|---|
| YONO SBI / BHIM SBI Pay | @sbi |
| Google Pay | @oksbi (other ok handles also possible) |
| Paytm | @ptsbi (other pt handles also possible) |
| PhonePe | @ybl, @ibl or @axl |
All of these send money to the same SBI account. Only the handle differs. For the Paytm route, see create UPI ID in Paytm; for Google Pay, see create UPI ID in Google Pay.
Limits to know
For normal person-to-person UPI payments, the NPCI limit is ₹1 lakh per day. Some categories like tax or IPO payments have higher limits. Banks can set their own lower caps and a count limit per day, and new users may face a lower limit in the first 24 hours. Check the current SBI limit in YONO under UPI settings, since it may vary by account. Our SBI UPI transaction limit guide has the full breakdown.
Example: if you create the ID at 10 AM and try to send ₹40,000 for a bike down payment at 11 AM, SBI may decline it during the first-day window even though it is under ₹1 lakh. Send a small test amount first, then the larger payment the next day.
Common problems and fixes
- Mobile number not registered: update your number at the branch, ATM or internet banking first.
- Debit card not accepted: the card must be active and linked to the same account. Activate a new card at an ATM before use.
- UPI ID already taken: try a variation with your surname or a number.
- Profile already exists: use Create/Retrieve UPI Profile in YONO to recover it instead of creating a new one.
- OTP delay: wait and retry. Avoid repeated attempts in a short time, which can trigger a temporary block.
- Payments failing after setup: it may be a server issue on SBI’s side; see SBI UPI not working.
What to do if you cannot finish setup
- Confirm the registered mobile number with SBI (branch, ATM or internet banking).
- Make sure that SIM is active in the same phone and selected for SMS.
- Activate your debit card at an SBI ATM if it is new.
- Try the other SBI app: if YONO fails, try BHIM SBI Pay, or the reverse.
- If you forget the PIN later, follow forgot UPI PIN.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Creating a second profile when one already exists. Retrieve the old one instead.
- Using your mobile number as the ID and then printing it on a shop board.
- Choosing a long ID with dots and digits that people mistype.
- Forgetting the security answer you set; note it somewhere safe and private.
Safety tips
- SBI will never ask for your UPI PIN, OTP or card CVV on a call.
- Download YONO and BHIM SBI Pay only from official app stores.
- You never need your PIN to receive money.
- To report fraud, use the national cybercrime helpline 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in, and inform SBI.
FAQs
What is the SBI UPI handle?
IDs created in YONO SBI or BHIM SBI Pay end in @sbi.
Can I create an SBI UPI ID without a debit card?
Possible only if the app offers Aadhaar OTP PIN setup for your account. Read our guide on creating a UPI ID without a debit card.
Can I change my SBI UPI ID later?
You can create a new ID in the app’s UPI profile settings. The exact option may vary by app version; check in your app.
Can non-SBI customers use YONO for UPI?
SBI opened YONO’s UPI features to other bank customers in 2023. Availability may vary; check the app.
Do I need both YONO and BHIM SBI Pay?
No. One is enough. Both give you an @sbi ID linked to the same account.
Can I link two SBI accounts?
Yes, if both use the same registered mobile number. You choose which one is primary during setup.
Is there any charge?
No. Creating an SBI UPI ID is free.
Conclusion
If you want an @sbi ID, create UPI ID in SBI through YONO SBI or BHIM SBI Pay. Keep your registered SIM in the phone and your debit card ready, and choose a name-based ID instead of your mobile number. For limits, fixes and other apps, browse all our UPI guides.
Sources: State Bank of India, NPCI, Paisabazaar SBI UPI guide, Moneylife on YONO UPI for non-SBI users.
This guide is for general information only. Limits and features can change; check your bank or UPI app for the latest details. FIIAndDIIData.com is not affiliated with NPCI or any UPI app.
