Recognised by The Asian Banker on their List of Leading Practitioners, Mr. Rahul Bhagat is a versatile Consumer Banking professional with over 3 decades of experience.

Mr. Bhagat began his career at ANZ Grindlays Bank (1989-1997) before joining Bank of America as Vice President (1997-1999). When Bank of America sold their consumer banking portfolios across numerous Asian markets, Mr. Bhagat joined HDFC Bank where he spent the next 16 years (1999-2015). As Country Head– Retail Liabilities, Marketing & Direct Banking Channels, Mr. Bhagat reported to the CEO for 10 years, managing a diverse portfolio that was instrumental in building the bank’s reputation as the leading consumer and digital banking franchise. He thereafter partnered with Vodafone India Ltd in successfully applying for a Payments Bank license in 2015 and was appointed CEO (designate) of the proposed bank.

During his extensive banking career, Mr. Bhagat’s contribution and leadership have been recognised through invitations to numerous Boards and Committees, including: Standing Committee on Retail Banking, Indian Bank’s Association; Executive Committee – National Securities Depository Limited; Customer Global Advisory Board, NCR Corp (USA); Global Advisory Board, Diebold Inc (USA).

Mr. Bhagat is actively involved in the fields of Education and Heritage Conservation. He was a Member of the Board of Governors of The Doon School (2016-22) and is the Founder and Director of the World Monuments Fund India Association. He also serves as an Independent Director on multiple commercial boards and uses his experience to invest in and mentor early-stage fintech and retail focused entrepreneurs.