BharatCoop 2025, the second edition of the Bharat Cooperative Banking Summit and Awards, was recently hosted in Hotel Lalit, Mumbai on 23rd May 2025, focusing on the vital role of technology in shaping the future of cooperative banking in India.
The event, curated by B2B Market Media | The Founder Media, gathered industry stakeholders, technology experts, and policymakers to chart the course for India’s co-operative banks in the digital era.
“Driving Financial Inclusion with Technology” was the central theme of BharatCoop 2025, where industry leaders came together to explore the transformative role of technology in reshaping India’s cooperative banking sector.
The day-long conference commenced with a welcome address by Dr. Anupam Gupta, Co-Founder and Director, B2B | TFM.
The inaugural session featured insights from eminent speakers including Satish Marathe, Director, Reserve Bank of India; Prabhat Chaturvedi, CEO, NUCFDC; Subhash Mohite, Chairman, Pune District Urban Cooperative Banks Association; Ramlal Sanap, CEO, Nashik District Urban Banks Association; Vidyadhar V. Anaskar, Chairman, Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank; Ajay Bramhecha, Chairman, The Maharashtra Urban Banks Federation; and Gopal Majumdar, CBO, RUGR.
Speaking at the event, Prabhat Chaturvedi, CEO, National Urban Cooperative Finance & Development Corporation (NUCFDC) presented a powerful keynote on the role of digital transformation in strengthening India’s cooperative banking framework.
His address highlighted the need for inclusive financial technologies that empower rural and underserved communities and emphasised the need for cooperative banks to embrace digital innovation as a means to stay relevant in a fast-evolving financial ecosystem.
A series of technical presentations followed, addressing the diverse dimensions of digital transformation. Gopal Majumdar of RUGR showcased how the company is redefining the way Bharat pays, banks, invests, and grows.
Chandrashekhar Pandidhar of Tata Communications presented solutions for securing cloud and customer engagement in India’s BFSI sector, while Vaibhav R. Malekar of Red Hat discussed the potential of open-source platforms for modernising cooperative banks.
Vinod Nair of Computhink, Sanjeev Kumar of Sonic Wall, and Ashutosh Kumar of DreamFolks Services also shared actionable insights on digital compliance, cybersecurity, and customer value enhancement.
Panel discussions formed the backbone of the day’s agenda, delving deep into the challenges and opportunities within the co-operative banking sector. The first panel, moderated by Yogesh Valunjkar of DNS Bank, focused on “Financial Inclusion Through Digital Banking: Empowering the Underserved.”
Industry stalwarts including Narendra Singh Dabi of Adarsh Cooperative Bank, Daljit Dogra of Zoroastrian Cooperative Bank, Hemant Dhatrak of NAMCO Bank, Sanjay B Shirgave of KAIJS Bank, Ashok Mittal of Billmart, and Gopal Majumder of RUGR explored topics such as mobile banking, UPI ATM, digital lending, and the future of payments in India’s cooperative sector.
The second panel, “Redefining Customer Experience for the Member-Centric Model of Cooperative Banks,” was moderated by Padmabhushan Bahadure of NUCFDC and featured speakers from Varachha Cooperative Bank, COSMOS Bank, Saraswat Bank, Bassein Catholic Cooperative Bank, and Janata Sahakari Bank, Pune.
Discussions centred on delivering mobile-first services, linguistic apps, and anywhere-anytime banking to meet the expectations of a new generation of customers.
The final panel, “Cybersecurity in Digital Banking: Protecting the Mobile and Online Experience,” moderated by Ravikiran Mankikar of RKM Consultants, addressed critical aspects of cybersecurity, including data protection, customer trust, and regulatory compliance.
Experts such as Ashok Kumar Tiwari of Vasai Vikas Cooperative Bank, Kailas Pawar of Pune Peoples Cooperative Bank, Milind Phatak of Kalyan Janata Sahakari Bank, Vishram Dixit of NAMCO Bank, and Peter Dcosta of Wysetek offered their perspectives on safeguarding India’s cooperative banking ecosystem against emerging digital threats.
The event concluded with keynote sessions by Sumnesh Joshi, DDG (Joint Secretary Level), Ministry of Communications, Government of India, who underscored the importance of policy support and innovation in shaping the future of digital banking in India.
The Bharat Ratna Sahakarita Samman 2025 felicitation ceremony honoured distinguished leaders for their contribution to the co-operative banking sector, followed by a vote of thanks from B2B | TFM.
The award winners, as follows, were felicitated by Sumnesh Joshi and Prabhat Chaturvedi.
| BEST CBS IMPLEMENTATION | |
| WINNER | SECTION |
| BASSEIN CATHOLIC CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD. | SCHEDULED COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| BEST CEO OF THE YEAR | |
| WINNER | SECTION |
| LAXMIKANT MANIKRAO KULKARNI, CEO, BHAUSAHEB SAHAKARI BANK LTD, UDGIR | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| SHASHIKALA, CEO, LIC EMPLOYEES COOPERATIVE BANK LTD, UDUPI | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – KARNATAKA |
| VISHRAM DIXIT, CEO, THE NASIK MERCHANTS COOPERATIVE BANK LTD | SCHEDULED COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| BHAVIK DEVANI, CEO & GM, PORBANDAR VIBHAGIYA NAGRIK SAHKARI BANK LTD | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – GUJARAT |
| LADANE RAMRAO SATWAPPA, CEO, SAIBABA NAGARI SAHKARI BANK MARYADIT SAILU | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| SHAIKH MANJUR AHMED SALIM, GENERAL MANAGER, SHRI GAJANAN NAGARI SAHAKARI BANK LTD, BEED | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| VANAMALA SRINIVAS, CEO, THE GAYATRI COOPERATIVE URBAN BANK LTD | SCHEDULED COOPERATIVE BANK – TELANGANA |
| BASAMMA MANNUR, CEO, THE TALIKOTI SAHAKARI BANK NIYAMIT | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – KARNATAKA |
| DALJIT DOGRA, MD & CEO, THE ZOROASTRIAN CO-OPERATIVE BANK LIMITED | SCHEDULED COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| BEST ASSOCIATION CHAIRMAN & CEO OF THE YEAR | |
| WINNER | SECTION |
| ADV. SUBHASH MOHITE, CHAIRMAN, PUNE ZILLA NAGARI SAHAKARI BANKS ASSOCIATION | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANKS ASSOCIATION – PUNE |
| RAMLAL SANAP, CEO, NASHIK URBAN BANKS FEDERATION | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANKS ASSOCIATION – NASHIK |
| BEST CHAIRPERSON OF THE YEAR | |
| WINNER | SECTION |
| SUDARSHAN GANG, CHAIRMAN BOARD OF MANAGEMENT, ABHINANDAN URBAN CO-OP BANK LTD, AMRAVATI | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| JANARADAN RANADIVE, CHAIRMAN, PUNE PEOPLES CO OP BANK LTD, PUNE | SCHEDULED COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| BHAGWANRAO RAMCHANDRARAO PATIL, CHAIRMAN, BHAUSAHEB SAHAKARI BANK LTD, UDGIR | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| KISHORE SHITOLE, CHAIRMAN, DEOGIRI NAGARI SAHAKARI BANK LTD | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| NANASAHEB PATIL, CHAIRMAN, LOKNETE DATTAJI PATIL SAHAKARI BANK LTD, LASALGAON | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| VINAKAYRAO GAVALI, CHAIRMAN, LOKVIKAS NAGARI SAHAKARI BANK LTD | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| YASHODHAN R KARANI, CHAIRMAN, SHRI ARIHANT COOP BANK LTD | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| DR. M.R. VENKATESH, PRESIDENT, SREE THYAGARAJA COOPERATIVE BANK LTD | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – KARNATAKA |
| RAMA KRISHNAM RAJU. M, CHAIRMAN, THE MAHARAJA CO-OP. URBAN BANK LIMITED | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – ANDHRA PRADESH |
| MITULKUMAR RAJENDRAKUMAR MEHTA, CHAIRMAN, THE MALPUR NAGARIK SAHAKARI BANK LTD | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – GUJARAT |
| YAZDI B TANTRA, CHAIRMAN, THE ZOROASTRIAN CO-OPERATIVE BANK LIMITED | SCHEDULED COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| BEST CISO OF THE YEAR | |
| WINNER | SECTION |
| ASHOK KUMAR TIWARI, CISO, VASAI VIKAS SAHAKARI BANK LTD. | SCHEDULED COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| BEST CYBER SECURITY INITIATIVE | |
| WINNER | SECTION |
| NASIK MERCHANTS COOPERATIVE BANK LTD | SCHEDULED COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| THE KALYAN JANATA SAHAKARI BANK LTD | SCHEDULED COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| THE VARACHHA COOPERATIVE BANK LTD | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – GUJARAT |
| YADRAV CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD, YADRAV | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| BEST DIGITAL BANK OF THE YEAR | |
| WINNER | SECTION |
| THE KALYAN JANATA SAHAKARI BANK LTD | SCHEDULED COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| TEACHERS’ CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – KARNATAKA |
| THE GAYATRI COOPERATIVE URBAN BANK LTD | SCHEDULED COOPERATIVE BANK – TELANGANA |
| THE VARACHHA COOPERATIVE BANK LTD | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – GUJARAT |
| VASAI VIKAS SAHAKARI BANK LTD. | SCHEDULED COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| BEST DIGITAL PAYMENTS INITIATIVE | |
| WINNER | SECTION |
| ADARSH COOPERATIVE BANK | SCHEDULED COOPERATIVE BANK – RAJASTHAN |
| COSMOS CO-OPERATIVE BANK LIMITED | SCHEDULED COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| BEST DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR | |
| WINNER | SECTION |
| MULAVEKAR CHANDRASHEKHAR DIGAMBER, DIRECTOR, SAIBABA NAGARI SAHKARI BANK MARYADIT SAILU | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| NISHCHAL J PATEL, DIRECTOR, THE MALPUR NAGARIK SAHAKARI BANK LTD | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – GUJARAT |
| BEST FEMALE JOINT MANAGING DIRECTOR | |
| WINNER | SECTION |
| AMENA HAIDERALI BOOKBINDER, JMD, ALAVI CO OP BANK LTD, VADODARA | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – GUJARAT |
| BEST FINTECH IMPLEMENTATION | |
| WINNER | SECTION |
| COSMOS CO-OPERATIVE BANK LIMITED | SCHEDULED COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| BEST FRAUD CONTROL INITIATIVE | |
| WINNER | SECTION |
| COSMOS CO-OPERATIVE BANK LIMITED | SCHEDULED COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| BEST IT HEAD OF THE YEAR | |
| WINNER | SECTION |
| KAILASH PAWAR, IT HEAD, PUNE PEOPLES CO OP BANK LTD, PUNE | SCHEDULED COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| NIPPUN CHITTORA, IT HEAD, THE UDAIPUR MAHILA SAMRIDHI URBAN CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD | MAHILA URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – RAJASTHAN |
| BEST LEGAL DOCUMENTATION & CONTRACT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE | |
| WINNER | SECTION |
| MANISHA POLADIA | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| BEST MAHILA URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | |
| WINNER | SECTION |
| LAXMIBAI MAHILA NAGRIK SAHAKARI BANK | MAHILA URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – MADHYA PRADESH |
| THE UDAIPUR MAHILA SAMRIDHI URBAN CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD | MAHILA URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – RAJASTHAN |
| RANI CHANNAMMA MAHILA SAHAKARI BANK NIYAMIT., BELAGAVI | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – KARNATAKA |
| BEST MOBILE BANKING INITIATIVE | |
| WINNER | SECTION |
| DEOGIRI NAGARI SAHAKARI BANK LTD | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| THE GAYATRI COOPERATIVE URBAN BANK LTD | SCHEDULED COOPERATIVE BANK – TELANGANA |
| BEST MULTI STATE BANK OF THE YEAR | |
| WINNER | SECTION |
| The NASIK MERCHANTS COOPERATIVE BANK LTD | SCHEDULED COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| THE GAYATRI COOPERATIVE URBAN BANK LTD | SCHEDULED COOPERATIVE BANK – TELANGANA |
| BEST NPA MANAGEMENT | |
| WINNER | SECTION |
| ABHINANDAN URBAN CO-OP BANK LTD, AMRAVATI | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| AMBAJOGAI PEOPLES CO-OP BANK LTD,AMBAJOGAI | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| LOKNETE DATTAJI PATIL SAHAKARI BANK LTD, LASALGAON | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| SHRI ARIHANT COOP BANK LTD | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| SREE THYAGARAJA COOPERATIVE BANK LTD | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – KARNATAKA |
| TEACHERS’ CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – KARNATAKA |
| THE GAYATRI COOPERATIVE URBAN BANK LTD | SCHEDULED COOPERATIVE BANK – TELANGANA |
| THE VARACHHA COOPERATIVE BANK LTD | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – GUJARAT |
| THE ZOROASTRIAN CO-OPERATIVE BANK LIMITED | SCHEDULED COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| RANI CHANNAMMA MAHILA SAHAKARI BANK NIYAMIT., BELAGAVI | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – KARNATAKA |
| BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | |
| WINNER | SECTION |
| BHAUSAHEB SAHAKARI BANK LTD, UDGIR | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| DEOGIRI NAGARI SAHAKARI BANK LTD | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| JANATA COOPERATIVE BANK LTD, MALEGAON | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| LOKNETE DATTAJI PATIL SAHAKARI BANK LTD, LASALGAON | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| LOKVIKAS NAGARI SAHAKARI BANK LTD | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| POCHAMPALLLY CO-OPERATIVE URBAN BANK LTD | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – TELANGANA |
| PUNE PEOPLES CO OP BANK LTD, PUNE | SCHEDULED COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| SHARAD NAGARI SAHAKARI BANK LTD | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| SHIVAJI NAGARI SAHAKARI BANK LTD, PAITHAN | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| TEACHERS’ CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – KARNATAKA |
| THE BARDOLI NAGRIK SAHAKARI BANK LTD | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – GUJARAT |
| THE KURLA NAGARIK SAHKARI BANK LTD | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| THE MAHARAJA CO-OP. URBAN BANK LIMITED | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – ANDHRA PRADESH |
| THE NANDURBAR MERCHANTS CO-OP BANK LTD, NANDURBAR | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| THE TALIKOTI SAHAKARI BANK NIYAMIT | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – KARNATAKA |
| THE UDUPI CO-OPERATIVE TOWN BANK LTD | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – KARNATAKA |
| VASAI VIKAS SAHAKARI BANK LTD. | SCHEDULED COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| BEST YOUNG LEADER OF THE YEAR | |
| WINNER | SECTION |
| DINESH KUMAR DIXIT, GM, BANDA URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK LTD | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – UTTAR PRADESH |
| SEETHA SRINIVAS, CEO, POCHAMPALLY CO-OPERATIVE URBAN BANK LTD | URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK – TELANGANA |
| SWAPNIL SALUNKHE, ASST. MANAGER, THE KALYAN JANATA SAHAKARI BANK LTD | SCHEDULED COOPERATIVE BANK – MAHARASHTRA |
| LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD | |
| WINNER | |
| ATUL KHIRWADKAR, Executive Vice President, NUCFDC | |
BharatCoop 2025 reaffirmed its commitment to building a robust, technology-driven cooperative banking ecosystem that empowers millions across India.
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