Airtel Payments Bank has announced a key leadership transition, appointing Shabnam Sinha as its new Chairperson for a three-year term beginning October 1, 2026. Sinha will succeed Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, who will conclude his tenure as Non-Executive Chairman and step down from the bank’s Board on September 30, 2026. Her appointment has been approved by the Board and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
The leadership change marks an important transition for Airtel Payments Bank as it enters its next phase of growth, with digital financial services, financial inclusion and technology-led banking continuing to shape the sector.
Shabnam Sinha to Lead the Next Phase
Shabnam Sinha currently serves as an Independent Director on the Board of Airtel Payments Bank. She also chairs the Board’s Special Committee for Monitoring Frauds and is a member of its Risk Management and IT Committees.
She brings more than three decades of experience spanning development finance, financial services, public policy and institutional transformation. Her professional experience includes work with the World Bank, where she advised governments and institutions across Asia, Africa and Europe on areas including governance, risk management and operational effectiveness.
Sunil Mittal Concludes Decade-Long Tenure
Sunil Mittal has served as Non-Executive Chairman of Airtel Payments Bank since April 2016. During his tenure, the bank expanded its reach across urban and rural India and built a large banking network focused on bringing underserved communities into the formal financial system.
Airtel Payments Bank currently serves more than 121 million monthly active users and nearly 30 million bank account customers through the Airtel Thanks App. Its network includes more than 500,000 banking points, extending its reach across the country.
Focus on Digital Banking and Financial Inclusion
The leadership transition comes as Airtel Payments Bank continues to strengthen its position in India’s digital financial services ecosystem. The bank has expanded access to formal banking through technology-led services and a wide physical banking network, particularly in underserved markets.
With Shabnam Sinha taking charge from October 1, the focus will now shift towards the bank’s next phase of growth, innovation and financial inclusion. Her experience in financial services, public policy and institutional transformation is expected to support the bank as it continues to evolve its digital banking proposition and deepen its reach across India.
The transition will formally take effect on October 1, 2026, with Mittal completing his tenure and leaving the Board on September 30.
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