By: Vidyadhar Vaishampayan, Former Chairman (2004-2014) and Director (1994-2019), TJSB Sahakari Bank<\/p>\n
February 5, 2026. Today is the Foundation Day of our beloved TJSB Bank! My association with this institution dates back to 1994. It brings immense pride to witness this journey, which began in a small office in Thane and has now reached the milestone of becoming India\u2019s fifth-largest cooperative bank. During my ten-year tenure as Chairman, we took giant leaps across all sectors. However, as I look back today in 2026, I feel this is not just a time to celebrate our past success, but a moment to prepare ourselves for the challenges of the future.<\/p>\n
The world of banking has undergone a fundamental transformation. As Brett King stated in his book Bank 4.0, \u201cBanking is no longer a place you go, but something you do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Previously, a bank’s strength was measured by its number of physical branches (Brick & Mortar). Today, however, is the era of Virtual Banking. The new generation finds it more convenient to conduct \u2018Zero-Touch\u2019 transactions via mobile rather than visiting a branch in person. Therefore, TJSB must look beyond just physical expansion and adopt a \u2018Phygital\u2019 model\u2014a blend of \u2018Physical\u2019 trust and \u2018Digital\u2019 speed. If a customer cannot avail of a loan or open an account from the comfort of their home, we risk falling behind the competition. We must transition toward becoming an \u2018Invisible Bank\u2019 that is available 24\/7 in the customer’s pocket (smartphone).<\/p>\n
Deepak Parekh, the former Chairman of HDFC Bank, always emphasised one thing: Diversification. TJSB can no longer afford to remain just a \u2018deposit and loan\u2019 bank. We must become a \u2018One-Stop Solution\u2019 for every financial need of our customers.<\/p>\n
Services such as Insurance, Mutual Funds (SIP), Stock Brokering, and Tax Planning should all be available under one roof. When a customer joins TJSB, we should be equipped to manage their entire Financial Lifecycle. This approach increases \u2018Customer Stickiness\u2019\u2014meaning a customer who avails of all their financial services through us will never leave our side.<\/p>\n
In today\u2019s banking landscape, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regulations are not merely a \u2018checklist\u2019 but our protective shield. Especially as one of the top five cooperative banks in the country, the eyes of the regulators are always upon us. Our policy regarding Regulatory Compliance must be one of \u2018Zero Tolerance.\u2019<\/p>\n
We must adhere strictly to rules\u2014not just to avoid penalties, but to safeguard the bank\u2019s image and maintain customer trust. A \u2018Risk-based Supervision\u2019 and a deep-rooted \u2018Compliance Culture\u2019 must be evident at every level of our operations. Adherence to regulations is not a hurdle; it is our strength.<\/p>\n
The health of any bank is measured not by the figures on its balance sheet, but by its Asset Quality. Disbursing loans is easy, but ensuring that the money returns safely with interest is the true skill.<\/p>\n
Our goal should not just be to grow the \u2018Loan Portfolio,\u2019 but to build a \u2018Quality Loan Portfolio.\u2019 We must never forget the mantra: \u201cQuality over Quantity.\u201d If our asset quality is excellent and NPAs (Non-Performing Assets) are under control, only then can we withstand any future economic crisis. Every employee must stay alert to \u2018Early Warning Signals\u2019 and uphold a culture of disciplined loan recovery.<\/p>\n
Today, mid-sized banks like TJSB are caught in a pincer movement. On one hand, large private banks have massive capital for technology, while on the other, new Fintechs are expanding rapidly.<\/p>\n
We face several key threats:<\/p>\n
Cyber-Resilience: In 2026, data theft or cyber-attacks are the greatest risks. Investment in cyber security is not an expense; it is an insurance policy.<\/p>\n
The Talent War: Tech-savvy youngsters are gravitating toward big tech companies. To attract them, we must modernise our Work Culture.<\/p>\n
Data Utilisation (Data Analytics): Large banks use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to predict exactly when a customer needs a loan. We must treat \u2018Data\u2019 as the new \u2018Fuel\u2019 and utilise it effectively.<\/p>\n
To the Board of Management: The time has come to be \u2018Innovators\u2019 rather than just \u2018Administrators.\u2019 Do not fear the adoption of new technology or change. Cloud Banking and AI are the needs of the hour.<\/p>\n
To my Dear Employees: No matter how much technology advances, the soul of the cooperative sector remains the \u2018Human Touch.\u2019 A machine can calculate accounts, but it cannot empathise with a customer\u2019s problems. Every employee must act as both a \u2018Risk Manager\u2019 and a \u2018Relationship Manager\u2019 for the bank.<\/p>\n
Conclusion<\/p>\n
TJSB\u2019s legacy is built on Trust. As Deepak Parekh once said, \u201cTrust is our biggest product.\u201d We must carry this trust into 2030, wrapping it in the framework of modern technology, RBI discipline, and superior asset quality. We must build a bank that is as fast as a Fintech, as secure as a large bank, and as compassionate as a cooperative.<\/p>\n
Warmest wishes to all of you on this Foundation Day!<\/p>\n
Sahkar se Samriddhi! (Prosperity through Cooperation!)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By: Vidyadhar Vaishampayan, Former Chairman (2004-2014) and Director (1994-2019), TJSB Sahakari Bank February 5, 2026. Today is the Foundation Day of our beloved TJSB Bank! My association with this institution dates back to 1994. It brings immense pride to witness this journey, which began in a small office in Thane and has now reached the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":80345,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[383,380],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-80344","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tjsb-times","category-380"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/thanevaibhav.in\/mr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80344","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/thanevaibhav.in\/mr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/thanevaibhav.in\/mr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thanevaibhav.in\/mr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thanevaibhav.in\/mr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=80344"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/thanevaibhav.in\/mr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80344\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":80346,"href":"http:\/\/thanevaibhav.in\/mr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80344\/revisions\/80346"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thanevaibhav.in\/mr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/80345"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/thanevaibhav.in\/mr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=80344"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thanevaibhav.in\/mr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=80344"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thanevaibhav.in\/mr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=80344"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}