MUMBAI: India's second-largest small finance bank just added some serious tech muscle. Equitas Small Finance Bank has appointed Balaji Nuthalapadi as executive director – technology and operations, signalling a sharp push towards tech-led transformation, seamless customer journeys and operational muscle.

The appointment, effective 29 March 2025, has received the green light from both the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Bank’s Board. With this move, Equitas is throwing down the digital gauntlet, placing a proven transformation leader at the heart of its operations.

"We are delighted to welcome Balaji Nuthalapadi to our leadership team. His vast experience in banking operations, technology and digital transformation will be a valuable asset as we continue to enhance our operational efficiency and drive innovation. His passion for digital banking, financial inclusion and social impact aligns seamlessly with the values and mission of Equitas Small Finance Bank,” said Equitas Small Finance Bank MD & CEO Vasudevan P N.

Nuthalapadi joins the Chennai-based bank with a CV that reads like a fintech playbook. At Citi Bank, he served as MD & head of centralised controls testing execution. There, he built a 1,100-member India team—one of the largest in global banking—to oversee international controls testing.

Previously, as MD & head of operations and technology for Citi south Asia, he helmed functions across India and southeast Asia, playing a crucial role in expanding Citi’s global hubs in India. An IIM Ahmedabad alumnus, he brings over two decades of hands-on expertise across operations, digital banking, and wealth management.

Now, Equitas is counting on that arsenal of experience to turbocharge its already impressive growth story. With a stronghold in financial inclusion and digital-first banking, the bank sees Balaji as the lynchpin of its future tech playbook.

The question now: how fast can he turn transformation into traction?