Rajan Bajaj has been appointed as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of slice Small Finance Bank, following approval from the Reserve Bank of India. His appointment became effective on February 17, 2026, marking an important leadership transition as the Bengaluru-headquartered lender advances its evolution into a full-fledged digital banking institution.
The decision received the necessary approvals from the slice Board, its shareholders, and the RBI. Bajaj, who previously served as Executive Director, now assumes responsibility for steering the bank through its next phase of growth and consolidation.
This leadership change comes at a defining moment for the institution. Slice has been steadily transforming from a digital credit and payments platform into a licensed deposit-taking bank. The shift gained momentum after its acquisition and merger with North East Small Finance Bank in 2024, strengthening its position within India’s rapidly expanding digital banking ecosystem. The merger enabled the fintech to transition into a regulated banking entity, laying the groundwork for a broader retail banking strategy.
Founded in 2016 by Bajaj, Slice began as a consumer-focused fintech startup offering small-ticket loans to young individuals with limited or no credit history. Over time, it expanded into payments and lending distribution under GIPL. In 2019, Bajaj also set up Quadrillion Finance (QFPL), a wholly owned NBFC of GIPL, which extended credit to retail customers and small businesses using technology-led underwriting and efficient risk processes. QFPL operated profitably and was later merged, along with GIPL, into slice’s banking entity as part of its structural consolidation.
Today, Slice operates as a full-stack bank, providing products including the slice savings account, slice fixed deposits, slice UPI, slice borrow, the slice UPI credit card, and India’s first UPI-led bank branch. The bank has ambitious plans to harness artificial intelligence to enhance personalized customer experiences and improve operational efficiency as it seeks to capture greater market share in the competitive small finance banking segment.
The company states that it has served more than 20 million registered users, employs over 3,000 people, and has raised more than $250 million from global investors such as Tiger Global, Insight Partners, and Advent International.
Financially, the bank has shown steady performance. Over the last three quarters of FY26, Slice reported a Profit After Tax of Rs 27.97 crore. Asset quality has remained stable, supported by disciplined underwriting standards and an in-house risk management infrastructure. Within the first year of commencing full banking operations, the bank opened more than four million savings accounts, reflecting strong early traction in its deposit franchise.
Commenting on his appointment, Bajaj said, “I am grateful to the Reserve Bank of India and our Board for the confidence they have placed in me. More people need banking in India today than at any point in our country’s history. The digital infrastructure to serve them well and at a fraction of the traditional cost now exists. And for the first time, technology makes it possible to offer every customer the kind of financial products that until recently were only available to the wealthiest few”.
With Bajaj now formally at the helm, slice Small Finance Bank is positioning itself to deepen its presence in retail banking while leveraging technology, AI, and digital infrastructure to redefine access and affordability in financial services.
