Sahil Kini Appointed CEO of Reserve Bank Innovation Hub to Drive Fintech Innovation.

Appointment

Sahil Kini, co-founder of fintech startup Setu and pioneer of the IndiaStack architecture, has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH), Bengaluru — a wholly owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of India — succeeding founding CEO Rajesh Bansal.


      - Sahil Kini was chosen after a six-month-long recruitment drive that attracted over 400 applicants, including fintech leaders, bank executives, and regulatory experts. His appointment — confirmed by the RBIH Board — reflects the high-profile nature of this leadership role.

      - An IIT Madras alumnus, Kini led Setu to prominence in API-based financial infrastructure prior to its 2022 acquisition by Pine Labs, and played a key role in the IndiaStack projects—including Aadhaar and Unified Payments Interface (UPI)—strengthening national digital payment frameworks.

     

Main Point :-   (i) Launched in March 2022, RBIH’s mission is to spur innovation in the financial sector by connecting fintech startups, banks, regulators, and academia. Under founding CEO Rajesh Bansal, the hub delivered high-impact solutions like Frictionless Credit and the Swanariâ„¢ platform for women’s financial inclusion, showcased at the G20 Summit.

      (ii) As CEO, Kini is tasked with steering RBIH towards expanding partnerships, piloting new products, and conducting actionable research in areas such as inclusive credit, fraud detection, and digital infrastructure. His mandate balances consumer protection and public engagement with a push for future-ready fintech solutions.


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