22 hrs ago
RBI Chief Urges Fintechs to Treat Data as Fiduciary Responsibility
India’s central bank governor spoke to fintech companies in Mumbai.
He said customer data is very valuable and should be treated like something held in trust for its owner.
Companies should collect it for a clear reason, use it only with permission and protect it carefully.
He also warned fintechs not to grow by exploiting unclear rules.
The governor said artificial intelligence can create unfair decisions, privacy problems and cybersecurity risks.
State Bank of India Chairman CS Setty said banks may need to use AI to assess risks in real time.
He said banking AI must be highly accurate because mistakes can affect people’s money.
He identified accuracy, accountability and fair access as important safeguards.
Setty also said banks could take three to four months to deploy FCNR(B) funds.
RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra urged fintechs to treat customer data as a fiduciary responsibility, not a business asset.
Malhotra said India ranked third globally in fintech funding, attracting $2.4 billion in 2025 and hosting 30 fintech unicorns.
He warned that AI adoption can create opacity, bias, exclusion, cybersecurity, privacy and human-judgment risks.
State Bank of India Chairman CS Setty said banks may face an “AI versus AI” environment requiring real-time risk assessment.
Setty called for accurate, accountable and fairly accessible banking AI, and said FCNR(B) funds could take three to four months to deploy.
- Who
- RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra and State Bank of India Chairman CS Setty.
- What
- Malhotra urged fintechs to protect customer data as a fiduciary responsibility; Setty discussed banking AI and FCNR(B) fund deployment.
- Where
- Mumbai, India.
- When
- Thursday, at the Global Fintech Fest 2026.
- Why
- The speakers addressed consumer trust, artificial-intelligence risks, financial security, regulatory conduct and fintech growth.
Key facts
- Event
- Global Fintech Fest 2026
- RBI governor
- Sanjay Malhotra
- Fintech funding
- India attracted $2.4 billion in fintech funding in 2025
- Global ranking
- India’s fintech ecosystem ranks third globally by funding
- Fintech unicorns
- India is home to 30 fintech unicorns
- Responsible banking AI
- Accuracy, accountability and fair access
- FCNR(B) deployment
- Banks are expected to take three to four months to deploy the funds
Quotes
Sanjay Malhotra
Reserve Bank of India Governor addressing fintech-sector representatives at the Global Fintech Fest
“I would urge all of you (fintechs) to treat data as a fiduciary responsibility, not as a business asset.”
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