Sahil Kini Named New CEO of RBI Innovation Hub

Sahil Kini, a well-known name in the Indian fintech space, has been appointed as the new CEO of the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH). This appointment follows a long search process that saw over 400 candidates applying for the top job. The RBIH is an important part of the Reserve Bank of India’s plan to boost financial technology innovation in the country.

Leadership Change at RBI Innovation Hub

Sahil Kini takes over the leadership from Rajesh Bansal, who served as the founding CEO of RBIH for four years. Under Bansal, the hub launched important initiatives like the Frictionless Credit platform and the Swanari program, which aimed to make financial services more accessible to women. Kini’s selection marks the beginning of a new phase focused on expanding partnerships, testing new ideas, and improving digital financial tools.

About Sahil Kini

Kini is a graduate of IIT Madras and has experience with leading companies like McKinsey, Aspada Investments, and Titan. In 2018, he co-founded Setu, a financial technology company that was later acquired by Pine Labs in 2022. He also played a key role at the iSPIRIT Foundation, contributing to the development of IndiaStack projects such as Aadhaar and UPI, which are major digital systems used across India today.

What is RBI Innovation Hub (RBIH)?

The Reserve Bank Innovation Hub was set up in 2022 as a fully owned arm of the Reserve Bank of India, located in Bengaluru. Its aim is to encourage innovation in financial services and to support collaboration between the government, banks, startups, and technology companies. The hub works on key issues like inclusive lending, fraud prevention, and improving digital financial infrastructure. Kini is expected to continue and expand this important work.