The Reserve Bank of India has approved Rajan Bajaj as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Slice Small Finance Bank, effective February 17, 2026, completing a key regulatory step in the fintech-turned-bank’s leadership transition.
Fintech founder to regulated bank CEO
Rajan Bajaj, founder of Bengaluru-based fintech Slice, assumes the MD & CEO role after receiving board and shareholder clearance and final approval from the RBI. Slice, launched in 2016, gained traction with digital credit and card-like products aimed at young, tech-savvy customers.
The fintech’s strategic shift began with its 2024 merger with North East Small Finance Bank, enabling the combined business to operate under the small finance bank licence. The merged entity was rebranded as Slice Small Finance Bank in 2025, marking one of the more prominent transitions of an Indian fintech into a regulated banking structure.
Leadership continuity and digital-first strategy
Bajaj served as Executive Director after the merger; his elevation to MD & CEO signals continuity in the bank’s executive leadership and its long-term technology-led roadmap. With RBI approval in place, he is expected to guide the bank’s next phase of growth, focusing on digital savings, UPI services, fixed deposits and consumer credit built on a tech-first platform.
The bank has emphasised serving younger and underserved customer segments through streamlined onboarding, AI-enabled personalization and data-driven credit decisioning. Industry observers say Bajaj’s fintech background should help balance rapid product innovation with the compliance and governance demands of a regulated bank.
Implications for the small finance banking sector
The appointment reflects broader regulatory acceptance of new-age financial institutions that combine digital capabilities with traditional banking licences. As digital adoption accelerates in India, small finance banks are becoming important channels to expand access to credit and deposit services for emerging segments.
Slice Small Finance Bank’s evolution—from a startup offering consumer credit to a licensed bank—illustrates the maturation of India’s fintech ecosystem. Rajan Bajaj’s confirmation as MD & CEO is likely to accelerate product development, geographic expansion and efforts to strengthen governance as the bank scales its operations.
