Ajay Kanwal

Big moment for Jana! We’re now the official banking partner of Royal Challengers Bengaluru @RCBTweets Shared ambition. Shared city. Shared journey. Let’s go! #RCB #JanaBank

This was a proud moment for all of us at Jana and a reminder of what steady belief can build. On February 28, @janabank was recognised as the Best Small Finance Bank at the Business Today Banking & Economy Summit & Best Banks Awards held in BKC, Mumbai. What makes it even more meaningful is how it was decided. This isn’t a popularity vote. It’s based on a detailed quantitative study by Business Today in partnership with KPMG. Which means it comes down to the basics - numbers, discipline, performance. But behind every number, there is a human story. Field officers going the extra mile serving the customer, a branch team that stays back after hours to fix an issue, tech team building quietly and risk teams holding the line when it matters most. That’s what truly builds a bank. Becoming a strong and trusted Small Finance Bank serving millions across India has never been about speed for the sake of it. It has always been about earning trust slowly, consistently and doing the right thing even when no one is watching. This recognition belongs to every colleague at Jana who believes that profitability and purpose are not opposites. They must go together. It belongs to our customers who trust us with their hard-earned money and their aspirations. And to our investors and partners who believe in playing the long game. We are grateful. And we are aware that awards don’t define you, they remind you of the responsibility you carry. The bar just went up. Now we serve better. We grow responsibly. And we stay true to why we started.

"GST Bachat Utsav", as highlighted by our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, is a truly heartening step — one that puts more savings directly into the hands of every household. At Jana, we truly believe that the additional savings as a result of the new GST tax slabs, should work harder, and hence, offer attractive savings avenue. In this spirit, we have defined GST as G = Guaranteed, S = Savings, T = Tomorrow. Through our special Fixed Deposit, available for a limited period at 7.77% p.a., we want to ensure that every rupee our customers save doesn’t just sit idle, but grows steadily to secure their tomorrow. Because true financial empowerment is not just about what we save, but how we make those savings work for us.

To me, CAs are more than just Chartered Accountants — they are Cherished Advisors. CAs bring structure where there’s complexity, discipline where there’s chaos, and trust where it’s needed most. From ensuring compliance to helping businesses grow the right way — they play a quiet but critical role in keeping the system steady. I’ve seen this up close, both personally and professionally: · Our CFO @AbhilashSandur, whose clarity makes decision-making sharper · Our auditors S.R.Batliboi & Co, @KPMGIndia, BDO, Brahmayya & Co., Chartered Accountants and Batliboi & Purohit, Chartered Accountants, Nissim and Co — past and present, who keep us anchored · My personal CA Rajaram Ajgaonkar, who’s been a steady advisor for 30 years · The tax experts @TaxCompaas who support us with precision and patience What stands out across all of them is a shared quality - they know their numbers, their concepts, and they know them well. They’re often sticklers for rules and process — and that’s exactly what keeps us safe. Bright, dependable, thoughtful — CAs are the ones we turn to for sound advice and strong foundations. You breathe structure into complexity and bring calm to chaos. A heartfelt thank you to all the CAs who have been part of my life, and to all those who continue to guide us at the bank — today and every day. @theicai #CADay

It was a privilege to listen to Mr. Challa Sreenivasulu Setty, Chairman of @TheOfficialSBI , in conversation with @TamalBandyo at our Leadership Meet. He spoke not just as a banker, but as someone who’s lived through the values he talked about—with simplicity, clarity, and conviction. SBI, by a conservative estimate the banker of one out of every three Indians, has so much to teach and share with all banking institutions.He reinforced the fundamentals—focus on the customer, stay calm in execution, and build institutions that endure through culture and hard work. The high point was him sharing a compelling personal story that shed light on the roots of his financial acumen. Long before he rose to the top of the banking world, his journey began in a modest kirana store run by his father. As a young boy, Setty ji, during his summer breaks, was entrusted with the task of collecting dues from the store’s customers. In doing so, he unknowingly began training for a future in banking—learning to engage with people, understand their challenges, negotiate with empathy and find workable solutions. These early, hands-on lessons in customer interaction and credit discipline became the bedrock of his professional philosophy. Remarkably, even as he moved on to manage complex portfolios and lead at the highest levels of the banking industry, those foundational experiences never left him. They continued to guide his approach, shaping the values and instincts that have defined his long and successful career. He also spoke about the three Ps—process, product, and people—and made it clear that while processes and products will keep evolving, it’s people who hold everything together. Whether it’s how we deal with something like a gold loan or how we carry the name of the bank with integrity—it’s people who make the difference. One line that really stayed with me was: “Invest in your current job as if you’ll do it for life.” Don’t worry about the next job or promotion. Accept every role with passion and believe that this is your life’s work—it will make you stronger and your delivery will start to reflect perfection. Finally, he left us with a simple question that says more than any strategy deck ever can: “What do you want to be seen as?”Purpose defines the path. Frankly, I would have loved to listen to his conversation for a few more hours… so in turn, we got him to agree to speak to all of us again next year. What better appreciation can one get than a wholehearted ENCORE.

Our National Leadership Meet 2025 was filled with stories—personal, powerful, and unforgettable. We were fortunate to hear from leaders across different walks of life—each candid about their journeys, and each sharing lessons wrapped in real stories. These weren’t just talks—they were experiences that left behind lasting thoughts on how to lead, work, and live better. His Grace Chanchalapathi Dasa, Senior Vice President of ISKCON Bangalore and Vice Chairman of The Akshayapatra foundation, brought us back to the basics— spirituality, staying grounded, and leading with purpose. Hearing about Akshaya Patra’s success, which serves meals to over 23 lakh children everyday, you realise that operational excellence has more areas of application and not just in banks. Lt. Gen. Vipul Shinghal spoke about the principle of “two up, two down”—that as leaders, we should be able to do the work of two levels below and understand the vision two levels above. The army, with decades of professional and dedicated services has so much to teach with glorious examples that it always humbles me. Arnab Goswami, known for building the Republic Network, left us with three words: Hunger. Ambition. Tenacity. A reminder that success is built on showing up, day after day and communicating with less emails and more in person conversations. His comment on National Social Responsibility being a part of every institutional agenda, distinct from community service left a lasting impression on me. Pramod Boga ☁ from Amazon Web Services gave us a sharp view into what AI and Machine Learning can do in banking—how it can reduce error, automate better and help us serve with more speed and precision. AI is the future and AI should stand for Aspire and Inspire. Ganesh Kumar S an ex banker turned Emotional Intelligence Coach helped us pause and think about emotional intelligence—why self-awareness and balance are essential if we want to build trust and lead well. As complexity and stress grows being an emotionally balanced leader can be defining reason of one’s success. Through a teamwork activity, our leaders came together to build bicycles—later gifted to needy children. A small gesture, but it said a lot about how we see leadership: hands-on, collaborative, and always connected to purpose. Everyone shared their stories and it became clear that we, too, have a story as a bank. As we prepare for our next episode and move towards becoming Universal Bank, what stays with us are not just plans or numbers—but stories. Because in the end, that’s what we remember—personally and professionally as Jana creates new ones. As Lt. Gen. Shinghal said, Goddess Lakshmi is always standing—she may come and go. But Goddess Saraswati is always sitting—and always stays. The more we learn, the more prepared we are—to lead, to serve and to grow. The journey continues—with more purpose than ever of serving as an Anchor Bank to a Rising and Atmanirbhar India.

Every hardship made us stronger and more resolute in our purpose – to serve a rising and Atmanirbhar India. Thank you. The journey continues —more purposeful than ever.

It’s a thank-you moment to all stakeholders who have supported and believed in us - every employee, customer, regulator, investor and partner who made this possible. We’ve come through many fires to reach this point including a COVID pandemic.

Today marks a significant milestone in our journey — Jana Small Finance Bank has formally applied to the Reserve bank of India to become a Universal Bank.

I am hoping the rating agencies would take serious note of this forward looking and confident steps and revise India ratings upwards soon. 6th June 2025 policy announcement will have its place in history.

What’s often missed is the impact on the government's borrowing cost. With lower yields and refinancing at better rates, this could mean savings of ₹30,000–40,000 crore—a quiet but powerful boost to fiscal space and spending ability.

I was awed with the policy announcement – clear, strong and confident – changed the mood and provides tailwind just when needed. A 100 bps CRR cut, front-loaded 50 bps cuts, supportive and purposeful, shows clear intent: to bolster growth given global uncertainties.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of being a part of the CXO Conclave 2025 – Bengaluru Edition, hosted by @IndiaRatings . It was a great experience to share the stage and exchange views with some of the finest minds from across industries. Conversations like these are reminders of how much we can learn by simply listening. Given the last few months of economic action, one clear takeaway from the discussions – India’s economic momentum is real and importantly has opportunity to get really strong in the medium to long term. Despite global headwinds, the India story continues to stay strong – driven by robust demand, a growing manufacturing base, one more year of good agricultural output and increasing investor trust. What excites me the most is how the vision of Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat is no longer just an idea—it’s turning into action. So much so that we're seeing a version of it unfold in US. With increasing focus on self-reliance, tariffs, and inward investment, it feels like we are seeing an Atmanirbhar America discussion become live today! Regulators have played a key role here—encouraging co-lending, streamlining norms for gold loans, and strengthening liquidity buffers. These are thoughtful moves that add stability while supporting growth. As I reflect on all this, I remain cautiously optimistic. The intent across sectors is clear. Policy support is aligned. If we stay the course, I believe we are well on our way to achieving sustained, inclusive growth — for the banking sector and for India.

Seven years ago, we set out on a journey—with a vision, a purpose, and a commitment to making a difference and building the best bank for customers. Today, as we celebrate this milestone, the overwhelming feeling is one of gratitude. We are thankful for our employees, whose dedication and passion drive us forward every day. To our customers, who trust us and make us a part of their lives. To our partners, regulators and stakeholders, who support and believe in our mission. And most importantly, for the challenges, learnings, and experiences that have shaped us into who we are today. Success is never just about numbers or milestones—it’s about the people who make it possible. As we step into the next chapter, we do so with humility, appreciation, and a commitment to keep growing, giving, and making an impact.

In our fast-paced lives, we chase dreams, build careers, and care for our families. Success is often measured by achievements—status, wealth, and milestones. But how often do we measure it by the impact we create in others' lives? Spending time at ISKCON Juhu was a reminder that success has a broader meaning. Their commitment to serving others—through food, education, and support—is truly inspiring. Interacting with ISKCON President Shri Brajhari Prabhu, CFO Shri Narottam Das, and Head Admin Shri Sandipani Prabhu was humbling—three smiling professionals with a larger motive and ambition, impacting lives in such a powerful way. CFO Shri Narottam Das is an ex-Citibanker (like me), and to better understand his motivations, he said read a book titled The Science of Self-Realization by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. As part of our CSR initiative, we contributed a Food Truck to support their mission of providing meals to thousands of Tarkali Adivasi children across six schools. I felt elated when I sat in the truck, imagining the smiles it would bring to children’s faces when it arrived at the school. Our bank employees do this for each activity—ensuring they get CSR proposals from their local communities and that they participate till the last mile, whether it is school benches, water purifiers, ventilators, or ambulances. The sense of calm and purpose at @ISKCONJuhu made me reflect—perhaps real success isn’t just about what we have but also how much we give.

I always knew that starting and running a good bank would be a marathon and not a sprint. Next month, we complete 7 years and our IPO last year was a big milestone in this journey. IPO solves some complexities but creates new ones too- so it’s a moment of pride, quickly followed by a feeling of being challenged. Your emotions rise and fall with the share price, even though you’re neither buying nor selling. New stakeholders emerge—analysts, fund managers, and an entire ecosystem that watches your every move. An IPO is a momentum change for any organisation—quarterly results become real, customers feel greater trust, and employees feel both pride and pressure of being a part of listed entity. And suddenly, no stock matters more to you than your own! Even socially, you see the change—family and friends now have questions & opinions on you depending on stock price! But above all, this journey is a testament to the effort and will of the people of @janabank. Sharing a few snapshots on our first anniversary of listing—a milestone to remember!

Senior citizens have always been thrifty and frugal and sometimes over-cautious. They grew up in India, where saving was second nature and every expense was thought through. The next generation has done well, but our seniors still feel responsible—old habits don’t change overnight. They have the money, and no obligations, yet old habits die hard. It’s time to change that. Their golden years should be just that—golden. When they were young, they had reasons to postpone expenses, to put off little joys. But not now. Now is the time to enjoy, to fulfill dreams without hesitation. That’s exactly what the Legend Savings Account is about. With our Legend savings account, we hope to offer not just great interest rates and excellent features but also a reason to embrace the joys they once postponed. They’ve cared for everyone else—now it’s their turn to celebrate themselves. The ad serves as a catalyst, reminding them that while they once put joy on hold for responsibilities, they don’t have to anymore. If this ad reminds them of that and inspires them to take that step, then we all would be delighted at the bank.

My recent visit to Amul was truly utterly butterly delightful! It was an absolute pleasure to meet Dr. Amit Vyas Managing Director of Amul Dairy—an inspiring leader driving incredible change. He generously spent time with us, sharing insights and walking us through Amul’s remarkable journey. Beyond being a household name, Amul stands as a testament to the power of innovation, digitization, and rural transformation. The level of digitization achieved by the Amul team is remarkable. As a bank that prides itself on being a new-era digital bank, even I was humbled by their scale and execution. It’s a reminder that technology, when used right, can create a massive impact, even in the most traditional industries. Two key takeaways stood out for me—product innovation and the future of rural India. We got to try the refreshing Amul Seltzer, a testament to the brand’s continuous innovation over the years. Amul’s ability to reinvent itself while staying true to its roots is truly inspiring. Equally remarkable is its deep commitment to empowering rural communities—a lesson for us all. Their deep commitment to empowering rural communities is something we all can learn from. Truly grateful for this experience!

Not every day does one get the chance to be among students and witness the talent and ambition that will shape the future, and it was truly a pleasure to visit @ParulUniversity and interact with its bright, energetic minds as the keynote speaker at the Finance Conclave. It was also a pleasure to meet @drdevanshupatel, the President of Parul University, whose passion and vision for education is truly inspiring. Equally remarkable was Dr Divyang Joshi's journey from being a professor to becoming the CFO of Parul University - two incredible examples of leadership. In fact, Parul University should be a case study of how to create an institution that fosters excellence. I also had the honour of inaugurating Jana Small Finance Bank’s ATM on campus, bringing financial accessibility closer to students and staff. We also signed an MOU to strengthen our partnership, which will open up meaningful opportunities for both institutions.