Sahil Kini has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub(RBIH), a pivotal fintech subsidiary under the Reserve Bank of India. This appointment is seen as a strategic move to infuse fresh entrepreneurial energy and advanced product innovation into RBIH, which has been at the forefront of driving technology-led transformation in the Indian financial sector. Kini’s selection followed a highly competitive process, with over 400 applications from a diverse pool of fintech founders, former bank CEOs, RBI and UIDAI officers, and industry experts, reflecting the immense interest and prestige associated with this leadership role.
Kini is widely recognized in the Indian fintech ecosystem as the co-founder of Setu, a Bengaluru-based API infrastructure startup that played a significant role in enabling seamless integration between financial services and businesses. Setu, which was acquired by Pine Labs in 2022, became known for its robust API solutions across categories such as bill payments, savings, credit, and payments, accelerating the adoption of open APIs in the sector. An alumnus of IIT Madras, Kini was also a member of the core IndiaStack team, contributing to key product innovation and policy initiatives that have shaped India’s digital financial infrastructure.
At RBIH, Kini succeeds Rajesh Bansal, who completed his five-year term in April 2025. Bansal, the inaugural CEO, was instrumental in launching RBIH’s flagship product, Frictionless Credit, which was showcased at the G20 summit and set a high benchmark for the organization’s impact. Following Bansal’s tenure, Rakesh Ranjan, Chief Digital Officer, served as interim CEO until Kini’s appointment.
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Kini’s mandate as CEO is both ambitious and comprehensive. He is expected to drive financial sector innovation, foster next-generation leadership, and shape organizational excellence. His focus will extend to research, execution, consumer protection, and financial inclusion, while also building strong engagement with startups, fintechs, regulators, academia, and the broader public. RBIH, headquartered in Bengaluru since its inception in March 2022, operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of India, with a mission to foster innovation by connecting key stakeholders and supporting the development of new solutions that promote access to financial services and products. Kini’s leadership is anticipated to further strengthen RBIH’s position as a catalyst for fintech innovation and financial inclusion in India.
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