Banker's promise: Building trust for tomorrow

Every New Year gives the banking community a rare pause — to look beyond balance sheets and introspect whether they are building an ecosystem that India will bank upon tomorrow.

- CS SETTY

The world around us continues to be in a state of flux. Global trade is fragmenting, currencies are volatile and capital moves faster than conviction.

In many economies, banking systems are feeling the strain of slowing growth and tightening financial conditions. Yet, in this uncertain global environment, India's banking sector has quietly rebuilt its foundations. Today, it stands stronger, more resilient and far more confident than it was a decade ago.

This strength did not come overnight. It came from hard choices from a regulator that chose long-term stability over short-term comfort. The regulatory reforms, whether on capital, provisioning or risk management, are not about control; they are about trust. Trust that banks will be able to lend through cycles, protect depositors in turbulent times and finance India's ambitions without repeating the excesses of the past.

As Gen Z enters the workforce, expectations from banking are being fundamentally reshaped. Banks are no longer perceived as buildings or branches, but as experiences — instant, intuitive, transparent and ethical. This generation values sustainability, privacy and purpose as much as price. For them, trust is earned not by legacy, but by relevance.