Preparing for SFB Transition: Fino Payments Bank Appoints Banking Veteran Amit Kumar as Head of Branch Banking

Oversaw 130+ branches and 1,200+ staff across East, West, and Central India

Education

MBA (BIMTECH, New Delhi) & Executive Banking Program (IIM)

The SFB Imperative: Why Branch Banking Matters Now

Unlike conventional universal banks, payments banks in India operate under tight regulatory parameters—they are prohibited from lending directly on their own balance sheets and are capped at accepting deposits of up to ₹2 Lakh per individual customer.

Fino Payments Bank successfully distinguished itself in this space by building a profitable, transaction-heavy "phygital" network comprising over 1.7 million merchant touchpoints, BC outlets, and digital payment rails. However, an SFB license fundamentally alters the operating model:

1. Unrestricted Deposit Mobilization: As an SFB, Fino will be able to accept unlimited term deposits, savings accounts, and institutional deposits, unlocking access to cheaper, stickier liabilities.
2. On-Balance-Sheet Lending: The bank will transition from distributing third-party credit products to originating and underwriting micro-loans, MSME loans, and secured retail credit.
3. Physical Branch Mandates: RBI regulations require Small Finance Banks to maintain at least 25% of their banking outlets in unbanked rural centres and operate full-fledged brick-and-mortar branches with standardized vault and compliance protocols.

Proven SFB and Universal Banking Pedigree

Kumar's professional trajectory aligns directly with this operational evolution. Having held key retail distribution and regional management roles at Jana Small Finance Bank and Bandhan Bank, he has navigated the practical complexities of scaling liabilities in semi-urban and rural markets.

His earlier stints at private sector heavyweights like ICICI Bank and IndusInd Bank further equip him with corporate liability sourcing and standard branch operating frameworks. Prior to joining Fino, Kumar managed an operational network spanning over 130 branches and a workforce exceeding 1,200 employees across India’s East, West, and Central regions.