AU Small Finance Bank appoints Anil Agarwal as Senior Executive Group Head – Commercial & Institutional Banking and Amol Padhye as Chief Risk Officer
FinTech BizNews Service
Mumbai, 14 September, 2026: AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB), India's largest Small Finance Bank and the first in over a decade to receive RBI's in-principle approval to transition into a Universal Bank, today announced the appointments of Mr. Anil Agarwal as Senior Executive Group Head - Commercial & Institutional Banking and Mr. Amol Padhye as Chief Risk Officer (CRO). These appointments further strengthen AU's leadership architecture as the Bank prepares for its next phase of growth, institutional expansion and proposed transition to a Universal Bank.
Anil Agarwal, Senior Executive Group Head - Commercial & Institutional Banking, AU Small Finance Bank
The appointments reflect AU SFB's continued commitment to building a future-ready institution anchored in prudent risk management, customer trust, operational excellence and disciplined execution. As the Bank expands its franchise and strengthens capabilities across customer segments, both leaders bring deep domain expertise and leadership experience that will support AU SFB’s long-term strategic priorities.
Deepening Commercial & Institutional Banking Capabilities
Mr. Anil Agarwal has been appointed Senior Executive Group Head – Commercial & Institutional Banking. He joins AU SFB with nearly three decades of experience across commercial and institutional banking, transaction banking, government business, corporate banking, financial institutions and capital markets.
In his new role, he will provide strategic leadership and integrated oversight across AU SFB's Commercial & Institutional Banking platform, spanning Commercial Banking, Wholesale Liabilities, Transaction Banking & Cash Management Services, Financial Institutions & Capital Markets Group, Government Banking, and Sustainability initiatives.
His appointment is expected to further strengthen AU SFB's integrated, client-centric and responsibly governed Commercial & Institutional Banking franchise as the Bank continues to expand its national presence, institutional coverage capabilities and long-term stakeholder relationships.
Prior to joining AU SFB, Mr. Agarwal spent over two decades at Axis Bank, where he held several senior leadership positions and played a pivotal role in building and scaling multiple businesses across diverse client ecosystems, including Financial Institutions, Government Business, Transaction Banking, Strategic Client Coverage, Corporate Banking and Priority Sector Lending Strategy. Earlier, he worked with IFCI in Project Finance and Credit.
A Rank Holder Chartered Accountant (CA) and Cost & Management Accountant (CMA), Mr. Agarwal combines deep institutional banking expertise, financial discipline and extensive experience in building enduring customer franchises across corporate, government and financial institution segments. He is widely recognised for balancing business growth with governance, customer centricity and disciplined execution.
Strengthening Risk Governance
Mr. Amol Padhye has been appointed Chief Risk Officer. A Chartered Accountant with over 23 years of experience across enterprise risk management, credit risk, market and liquidity risk, model risk management, and emerging technology risk governance, he brings deep expertise in building robust risk frameworks and governance standards. Prior to joining AU SFB, he held senior leadership roles at HDFC Bank and EY, leading risk transformation, governance, and regulatory initiatives across the financial services sector.
At AU SFB, he will lead the Bank's Risk Management function, with a focus on further strengthening enterprise-wide risk governance, regulatory readiness and risk management frameworks while supporting the Bank's long-term growth ambitions in an increasingly dynamic operating environment.
Commenting on the appointments, Mr. Sanjay Agarwal, Founder, MD & CEO, AU Small Finance Bank, said, "At AU SFB, we have always believed that enduring institutions are built on strong leadership, disciplined execution and a long-term commitment to sustainable growth. As we continue to strengthen our capabilities across businesses and governance functions, investing in leadership depth remains a key priority. Anil has earned a reputation for building and nurturing customer franchises, strategic foresight and balancing growth with institutional resilience, while Amol brings extensive experience in strengthening risk governance and organisational resilience. Together, these appointments reinforce our focus on building a future-ready institution, balancing scale with sustainability, and creating long-term value for our customers, employees and shareholders."
Mr. Anil Agarwal, Senior Executive Group Head - Commercial & Institutional Banking, AU Small Finance Bank, said, “AU SFB has established itself as one of India's most admired financial institutions by combining entrepreneurial agility with strong governance and customer focus. I am delighted to join AU SFB at this exciting phase of its growth journey and look forward to working closely with the leadership team to further strengthen and scale the Commercial & Institutional Banking franchise, deepen client relationships and deliver differentiated solutions that support businesses across the country. I am confident that AU SFB's distinctive culture, exceptional talent and long-term vision will continue to create enduring value for customers, shareholders and all stakeholders”.
Mr. Amol Padhye, Chief Risk Officer, AU Small Finance Bank, said, “AU SFB's success has been built on a strong foundation of prudent risk management, customer trust and responsible growth. I am privileged to assume this role at a time when the banking industry is evolving rapidly amid new opportunities and emerging risks. My focus will be on further strengthening the Bank's risk culture, leveraging data, technology and analytics to improve decision-making, and ensuring that risk management continues to serve as a strategic enabler of AU SFB's long-term ambitions. Together, we will continue strengthening the Bank's resilience while enabling sustainable and responsible growth."
Over the years, AU SFB has consistently invested in strengthening its leadership architecture, governance frameworks and institutional capabilities while scaling its national banking franchise. These appointments further reinforce the Bank's focus on building specialist capabilities in areas that are increasingly critical to sustainable growth, including risk governance, institutional banking, customer engagement and long-term value creation.
