The Bharat Cooperative Banking Summit and Awards (Bharat Coop) 2024 was organised by B2B Market Media | The Founder Media on 22nd May in Mumbai under the theme “Digital transformation in cooperative banks,” that saw more than 300 participants.
The inaugural session titled “Digital Transformation – Revolutionising the Indian Cooperative Sector” brought together key stakeholders from the cooperative banking sector, government officials and technology leaders. The session aimed at exploring the impact of digital transformation on the cooperative sector in India and addressed the pressing challenges and opportunities in the industry.
The event was graced by Laxmi Das, President, National Federation of Urban Cooperative Banks and Credit Societies (NAFCUB); Sunil Deora, Director, NAFCUB; Gautambhai Vyas, Director, NAFCUB; Madan Gopal Swami, Director, NAFCUB; Subhash Mohite, Chairman, Pune District Urban Cooperative Banks Association; Alka Srivastava, Director, NAFCUB and MP Urban Banks Federation; Ramlal Sanap, CEO, Nashik District Urban Banks Association; and Amit Raghuwanshi, Head – Government Business, Acer.
The technical presentations at the summit added value to the discussions, with Samit Shetty, Enterprise Leader – Automation, IBM India South Asia discussing automation; Deepu Chacko, Senior Director, Solution Engineering, Salesforce, elaborating on fostering growth with data, AI, CRM and trust; and Sudarsan, Presales Engineer, ManageEngine Site24x7, highlighting the importance of observability for financial and digital resilience. Jigisha Bhatia, Regional Business Manager – Commercial Business, Acer, spoke on breaking barriers between people and technology.
The conference also featured three panel discussions. The first, “Digital Banking: The Path to Pursuing Digitisation,” was moderated by Yogesh Valunjkar, Director, DNS Bank, and included panelists Prasad Patil, CEO, Vishwas Cooperative Bank; Narendra Singh Dabi, MD and CEO, Adarsh Cooperative Bank Rajasthan; Daljit Dogra, MD and CEO, Zoroastrian Cooperative Bank; Vishram Dixit, CEO, NAMCO Bank; Sanjay B Shirgave, CEO, KAIJS Bank; Ramanan SV, CEO, Intellect Design; and Prakash Somaiya, Senior Director, Head – Sales and Consumer Success, Finnate by Centelon. The key topics of discussion included mobile banking, UPI ATM, cloud computing, digital lending and future trends in digital payments.
The second panel, “Customer is King: Role of Technology in Customer-Oriented Banking,” moderated by Ravikiran Mankikar, CMD, RKM Consultants, focussed on serving tech-savvy customers, mobile and internet banking, and extending services through ATMs. Panelists included Vitthal Dhanani, CEO, Varachha Cooperative Bank; Arti Dhole, CTO, COSMOS Bank, Srinivas Rao, CIO, Saraswat Bank, Onil Nunes, CIO, Bassein Catholic Cooperative Bank and Akash TK, Senior Presales Consultant, ManageEngine Site 24×7.
The third panel, “Cyber Security: Critical Block for UCBs for Fearless Growth,” again moderated by Valunjkar, addressed issues such as strengthening customer loyalty, safeguarding data and protecting banks from reputational damage and regulatory costs. Panelists included Bhaskar Rao, CISO, Bharat Bank; Ashok Kr Tiwari, CISO, Vasai Vikas Cooperative Bank; Madana Gopala Swamy, Chairman, Adarsh Cooperative Bank, Hyderabad; Kailas Pawar, CIO, Pune Peoples Cooperative Bank; Ronil Mehta, Director – Technical, Magnamious Systems; and Jagdish Mehta, Brand Technical Specialist, Security Software, IBM India South Asia.
The summit also witnessed technical presentations from Hari KV, Delivery Director, Intellect Design on “Empowering Cooperative Banks with Intellect Digital Core;” Prakash Somaiya, Senior Director, Head – Sales and Customer Success, Finnate by Centelon, on “Emerging trends in digital lending;” Varun Khullar, Head – BFSI, Leadsquared, on “Empowering Cooperative Banking with Leadsquared: Simplified customer journey management;” Sunil Pandita, VP – Sales, India and South Asia, Newgen, on “Achieving true digital banking with the NewgenONE Low-code platform” and Tanveer Shaikh, Senior Sales Engineer (West), SOPHOS, on “Cybersecurity challenges in Cooperative Banking: Trends and Solutions.”
The summit also saw a keynote session being delivered by Sumnesh Joshi, Deputy Director General (Joint Secretary Level), Ministry of Communications, Government of India, that provided insights into the regulatory and policy framework supporting the digital transformation of the cooperative banking sector.
The summit concluded with the Bharat Ratna Sahakarita Samman 2024 felicitation ceremony, honouring the outstanding contributions to the cooperative banking sector.
The winners, as follows, were felicitated by Joshi.
| SEGMENT | NOMINATION CATEGORY | WINNER |
| MAHILA COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST CHAIRPERSON OF THE YEAR | ALKA SHRIVASTAVA, CHAIRPERSON, LAXMIBAI MAHILA NAGRIK SAHAKARI BANK |
| MAHILA COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR | SHEETAL RAVINDRA THAKRE, DIRECTOR, WARDHA DISTRICT ASHIRWAD MAHILA NAGARI SAHAKARI BANK |
| MAHILA COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST MAHILA URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | WARDHA DISTRICT ASHIRWAD MAHILA NAGARI SAHAKARI BANK |
| MULTI-STATE COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST CBS IMPLEMENTATION | ZOROASTRIAN COOPERATIVE BANK |
| MULTI-STATE COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST CEO OF THE YEAR | NARENDRA SINGH DABI, CEO, ADARSH COOPERATIVE BANK, RAJASTHAN |
| MULTI-STATE COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST CHAIRPERSON OF THE YEAR | DURGESH CHANDAVARKAR, CHAIRMAN, SVC CO-OPERATIVE BANK LIMITED |
| MULTI-STATE COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST CHAIRPERSON OF THE YEAR | SURYAKANT J SUVARNA, CHAIRMAN, BHARAT CO-OPERATIVE BANK (MUMBAI) LIMITED |
| MULTI-STATE COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST CHAIRPERSON OF THE YEAR | YAZDI TANTRA, CHAIRMAN, ZOROASTRIAN COOPERATIVE BANK |
| MULTI-STATE COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST CISO OF THE YEAR | ASHOK KUMAR TIWARI, CISO, VASAI VIKAS SAHAKARI BANK LIMITED |
| MULTI-STATE COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST CYBER SECURITY INITIATIVE | BHARAT CO-OPERATIVE BANK (MUMBAI) LIMITED |
| MULTI-STATE COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST CYBER SECURITY INITIATIVE | GAYATRI COOPERATIVE BANK LIMITED |
| MULTI-STATE COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST CYBER SECURITY INITIATIVE | SVC CO-OPERATIVE BANK LIMITED |
| MULTI-STATE COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST DATA CENTRE IMPLEMENTATION | THE COSMOS CO-OPERATIVE BANK LIMITED |
| MULTI-STATE COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST DIGITAL PAYMENTS INITIATIVE | GAYATRI COOPERATIVE BANK LIMITED |
| MULTI-STATE COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR | YOGESH VALUNJKAR, DIRECTOR, DOMBIVLI NAGRIK SAHAKARI BANK |
| MULTI-STATE COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST MOBILE BANKING INITIATIVE | GAYATRI COOPERATIVE BANK LIMITED |
| MULTI-STATE COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST MOBILE BANKING INITIATIVE | THE NASIK MERCHANTS CO OP BANK LIMITED, NASHIK |
| MULTI-STATE COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST MULTI-STATE URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | THE NASIK MERCHANTS CO OP BANK LIMITED, NASHIK |
| MULTI-STATE COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST MULTI-STATE URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | PUNE PEOPLES COOPERATIVE BANK |
| MULTI-STATE COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST NPA MANAGEMENT | THE KALYAN JANATA SAHAKARI BANK LIMITED |
| MULTI-STATE COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST NPA MANAGEMENT | ZOROASTRIAN COOPERATIVE BANK |
| MULTI-STATE COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST RISK MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE | THE KALYAN JANATA SAHAKARI BANK LIMITED |
| MULTI-STATE COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST WOMAN LEADER OF THE YEAR | ASHWINI VINEKAR, GM – HRM, ADMINISTRATION, PROCUREMENT, PREMISES & DEVELOPMENT, SVC CO-OPERATIVE BANK LIMITED |
| URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST CBS IMPLEMENTATION | LIC EMPLOYEES CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD, UDUPI |
| URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST CEO OF THE YEAR | LAXMIKANT KULKARNI, CEO, BHAUSAHEB SAHAKARI BANK LIMITED, UDGIR |
| URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST CEO OF THE YEAR | SHIVAJI DETHE, CEO, ABHINANDAN URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK |
| URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST CHAIRPERSON OF THE YEAR | AJAY PATIL, CHAIRMAN, YADRAV CO-OPERATIVE BANK LIMITED |
| URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST CHAIRPERSON OF THE YEAR | BHAGWANRAO PATIL, CHAIRMAN, BHAUSAHEB SAHAKARI BANK LIMITED, UDGIR |
| URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST CHAIRPERSON OF THE YEAR | KISHORE J SHITOLE, CHAIRMAN, DEOGIRI NAGARI SAHAKARI BANK |
| URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST CHAIRPERSON OF THE YEAR | NAMDEORAO RAMRAO PAWAR, CHAIRMAN, LOKVIKAS NAGARI SAHAKARI BANK LIMITED |
| URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST CHAIRPERSON OF THE YEAR | AKBER CHASMAWALA, CHAIRMAN, ALAVI URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK |
| URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST CISO OF THE YEAR | PARESH KELAWALA, GM-IT, THE VARACHHA COOPERATIVE BANK LIMITED |
| URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST CYBER SECURITY INITIATIVE | THE KURLA NAGARIK SAHAKARI BANK LIMITED |
| URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST DATA CENTRE IMPLEMENTATION | SRI KANYAKAPARAMESWARI CO-OPERATIVE BANK LIMITED, MYSORE |
| URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST DIGITAL BANK OF THE YEAR | THE VARACHHA COOPERATIVE BANK LIMITED |
| URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST DIGITAL PAYMENTS INITIATIVE | SAIBABA NAGARI SAHAKARI BANK MARYADIT SAILU |
| URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST DIGITAL PAYMENTS INITIATIVE | THE UDUPI CO-OPERATIVE TOWN BANK LIMITED |
| URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR | MASOOMALI MOTIWALA, DIRECTOR, ALAVI CO OPERATIVE BANK LIMITED |
| URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST FRAUD CONTROL INITIATIVE | THE ADARSH COOPERATIVE URBAN BANK LIMITED |
| URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST IT HEAD OF THE YEAR | KRITHIK RAJ K, IT-HEAD, TEACHERS CO-OPERATIVE BANK LIMITED |
| URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST MD OF THE YEAR | MANJUNATHA SHETTY, MD, TEACHERS CO-OPERATIVE BANK LIMITED |
| URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST MD OF THE YEAR | ZAKIRHUSAIN MARCHAWALA, MD, ALAVI CO OPERATIVE BANK LIMITED |
| URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST NPA MANAGEMENT | JALORE NAGRIK SAHAKARI COOPERATIVE BANK |
| URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST NPA MANAGEMENT | POCHAMPALLY CO-OPERATIVE URBAN BANK LIMITED |
| URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST NPA MANAGEMENT | RAJAPUR URBAN CO-OP BANK LIMITED, RATNAGIRI |
| URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST NPA MANAGEMENT | THE KURLA NAGARIK SAHAKARI BANK LIMITED |
| URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – ANDHRA PRADESH STATE | THE MAHARAJA COOPERATIVE URBAN BANK LIMITED |
| URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – GUJARAT STATE | THE BARDOLI NAGRIK SAHAKARI BANK LIMITED |
| URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – KARNATAKA STATE | THE UDUPI CO-OPERATIVE TOWN BANK LIMITED |
| URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – KARNATAKA STATE | MAHALAKSHMI CO-OPERATIVE BANK LIMITED, UDUPI |
| URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA STATE | JANATA CO OP BANK LIMITED, MALEGAON |
| URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA STATE | MAHATMA FULE URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK LIMITED, AMRAVATI |
| URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA STATE | RAJAPUR URBAN CO-OP BANK LIMITED, RATNAGIRI |
| URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – TELANGANA STATE | THE POCHAMPALLY CO-OPERATIVE URBAN BANK LIMITED |
| URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST YOUNG LEADER OF THE YEAR | YASHPAL A SUVARNA, CHAIRMAN, MAHALAKSHMI CO-OPERATIVE BANK LIMITED, UDUPI |
The Bharat Coop 2024 highlighted the role of digital transformation in revolutionising the Indian cooperative sector. It provided a platform for meaningful dialogues, knowledge sharing, and the forging of new alliances, setting the stage for future advancements in the industry.