NEW DELHI: Shabnam Sinha will be the chairperson of Airtel Payments Bank Ltd from Oct 1, with Sunil Bharti Mittal set to conclude his tenure as non-executive chairman and stepping down from the board on Sept 30, 2026. Sinha, currently an independent director of the bank, will take over for a tenure of three-year following her appointment by the board and approval by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).Sinha chairs the special committee of the board for monitoring frauds and is a member of the risk management and IT committees. Bharti Enterprises founder and chairman Sunil Mittal was appointed as non-executive chairman of Airtel Payments Bank in April 2016. Under his leadership, the bank grew to become India’s largest payments bank by revenue, with a strong presence across both consumer and enterprise businesses.Currently it serves over 12.1 crore monthly active users and nearly 3 crore bank account customers through Airtel Thanks App and a network of over 5 lakh banking points, reaching three out of four villages across India. The bank has expanded access to formal banking services across the country, while also emerging as the country’s second largest mobile bank and UPI Autopay player.Mittal said: “It has been a privilege to serve as chairman of Airtel Payments Bank and witness its journey from an accessibility-focused effort into a trusted institution serving millions across urban and rural India. We built one of the country’s largest banking networks, brought underserved communities into formal banking, and delivered a safe, digital-first experience. I thank our team, Board and stakeholders for their trust, and I am confident that under Shabnam’s leadership, the Airtel Payments Bank will build on this foundation and further strengthen its position as one of India’s leading digital banking platforms.”Sinha said: ” I am honoured to assume this responsibility at Airtel Payments Bank at a time when digital financial services are becoming the backbone of India’s inclusive growth story. The Bank has built a strong and trusted institution by combining technology with accessible banking, serving millions across the country and being the bridge to the formal economy for countless Indians. I am grateful to Mittal and the board for their trust in me. I look forward to working closely with the Board and management team to build on our strong momentum, drive the next phase of growth and expand the Bank’s impact for customers, partners and communities across the country.”Sinha brings over three decades of leadership and board experience across development finance, financial services, public policy and institutional transformation. Her career includes the World Bank, where she advised governments and institutions across Asia, Africa and Europe on governance, risk management and operational effectiveness. An independent director, she brings expertise in financial inclusion, digital transformation and institution building, providing valuable strategic perspective as Airtel Payments Bank enters its next phase of growth and innovation.
