GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday, May 16, inaugurated what he described as India’s first AI-powered digital branch of Slice Bank in Dispur, marking a major step in Assam’s growing digital banking ecosystem.
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The branch has been launched by Slice Small Finance Bank, which emerged from the merger of Bengaluru-based fintech Slice and Guwahati-based North East Small Finance Bank in March 2024.
Speaking at the inauguration, Sarma said the bank has already employed more than 1,000 people across Assam and praised the company for expanding beyond its initial commitments to the state.
“I am happy that Slice has maintained its commitment made to us, or rather they walked beyond their commitment,” the chief minister said.
Expressing confidence in the bank’s future, Sarma added that the institution is “here to stay” and could emerge as one of the country’s leading banks within the next decade.
He also said the Assam government plans to work with Slice in the coming days to facilitate credit support for unemployed youth in the state to help them launch entrepreneurial ventures.
Rajan Bajaj, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Slice Bank, said the bank remains committed to Assam despite being a relatively young institution.
“We are a young bank, but we are very serious about the state. Today, we are proving it that we are going to continue with our commitment of being serious about Assam,” Bajaj said.
Also present at the event, Dilip Asbe, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), said Assam has witnessed rapid growth in digital payments but still holds significant untapped potential.
“Digital payments have a possibility to become a backbone of the financial ecosystem of the state and the country,” Asbe said.