- Shabnam Sinha will take over as non-executive chairperson of Airtel Payments Bank, effective October 1, 2026, following her appointment by the Board and approval by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
- Sunil Bharti Mittal will step down from the board of Airtel Payments Bank effective September 30, 2026.
- Mittal was appointed as non-executive chairman of Airtel Payments Bank in April 2016.
- Under Mittal's leadership, Airtel Payments Bank grew to become India's largest payments bank by revenue, serving over 121 million monthly active users and nearly 30 million bank account customers.
- Airtel Payments Bank has expanded access to formal banking services and emerged as the country's second-largest mobile bank and UPI Autopay player.
Shabnam Sinha is set to take over as the new chairperson of Airtel Payments Bank on October 1, 2026, following the resignation of Sunil Bharti Mittal, who has served since April 2016. Mittal will officially step down from the board on September 30, 2026.1234569
Under Mittal's leadership, Airtel Payments Bank has grown to become India's largest payments bank by revenue, serving over 121 million monthly active users and nearly 30 million bank account customers through the Airtel Thanks App. The bank operates a network of over 500,000 banking points, reaching three out of four villages across India, and has emerged as the country's second-largest mobile bank and UPI Autopay player.78
Mittal expressed his gratitude, stating, "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." He highlighted the bank's role in bringing underserved communities into formal banking and delivering a digital-first banking experience.
Sinha, who currently serves as an independent director on the board, has over three decades of leadership experience in development finance, financial services, public policy, and institutional transformation. She chairs the Special Committee of the Board for Monitoring Frauds and is a member of the Risk Management and IT Committees.
The transition in leadership marks a significant moment for Airtel Payments Bank as it continues to expand access to formal banking services across the country.
“Sinha, an independent director on the bank's board, chairs its Special Committee for Monitoring Frauds and brings over three decades of leadership experience, including a stint at the World Bank. The bank serves over 121 million monthly active users and nearly 30 million bank account customers.”
