The Bharat Cooperative Banking Summit & Awards 2026 (#BharatCoop26) has concluded at Hotel Ramada, Lucknow, after three days of panel discussions, industry presentations, closed-door roundtables, and awards recognising excellence across India’s cooperative banking sector.
Organised by Bharat Network Group, under its flagship platform The Banker Media, the theme was based on “Empowering Cooperative Banks for an AI-Driven Future”. The summit brought together, federation heads, CEOs, banking leaders, and FinTech companies from across the country for what has become the sector’s most anticipated annual gathering.
The summit opened on June 5 with a welcome address by Dr. Anupam Gupta, Co-Founder & Director, Bharat Network Group. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Anupam Gupta said, “BharatCoop26 was conceived as a space where India’s cooperative banking leadership could move beyond conversation and into action. The quality of dialogue across all three days ranging from cybersecurity readiness to AI adoption to core banking modernisation that reflects how seriously this sector is taking the challenge of transformation. Cooperative banks are the financial backbone of rural and semi-urban India, and they deserve the same quality of strategic attention that the broader BFSI sector commands.”
This was followed by a short address by Atul Pandey, Director-IT, Bharat Network Group, explaining, “The myBNG App is our way of making engagement at BharatCoop more than just attendance. Every session you sit in, every booth you visit, every interaction you have here earns you points and those points translate into real rewards. We want delegates to walk away not just with insights but with a reason to stay connected to this community long after the summit ends.”
The opening session featured addresses from Ajay Bramhecha, Chairman, The Maharashtra Urban Banks Federation & Director, NAFCUB; Adv. Shubhash Mohite, Honorary Secretary, Pune District Urban Banks Association; RC Verma, Chairman, Uttar Bharat Urban Banks Federation; Anurag Srivastava, CEO, Uttar Bharat Urban Banks Federation; and Parag Samant, CMO, SIL Infotech Pvt. Ltd.
The evening also saw the unveiling of The Banker Media Magazine in the presence of the sector leaders the publication covers.
The first day’s central session, Panel Discussion 1 on Digital Banking for All: Expanding Financial Inclusion & Opportunity, was moderated by Balaka Baruah Aggarwal, Consulting Editor, Bharat Network Group. The panel brought together Narendra Singh Dabi, MD & CEO, Mount Nagrik Sahakari Bank; Dr. Sanjay Ghodke, MD & CEO, Pune Peoples Cooperative Bank; Ravindra Misra, Chief Product Officer, OPL; Parag Samant, CMO, SIL Infotech Pvt. Ltd.; Shashank Sharma, Co-Founder & Director, Scoreme Solutions Private Limited; and Balasaheb Sathe, Director, The Cosmos Co-op Bank Ltd., Pune. Two industry presentations followed by Parag Samant on end-to-end banking technology solutions for cooperative banks, and the second by Chidrup Shah, Vice President-Product, OPL, and Nitin Soni, Team Lead- Product, OPL, on industry trends in digital lending and inclusive growth. Day 1 wrapped with an exclusive workshop on the effects of the New Labour Code on urban banks, led by Adv. Jayant Shaligram, Ex-Director, Cosmos Bank, and Adv. Subhash Mohite, conducted in association with the Pune District Urban Banks Association.
Day 2 began with a Welcome Address by Dr. Ashish Srivastava, Founder & Director, Bharat Network Group.
Dr. Ashish Srivastava, Co-Founder & Director, Bharat Network Group, added, “What stands out from BharatCoop26 is the collective intent in the room. Leaders came not to observe but to act. The conversations around digital lending, customer experience, and regulatory compliance were grounded and practical. That is exactly what this platform was built for.”
In an exclusive keynote address, Biswajit Phukan, MLA and Chairman, The Assam Co-operative Apex Bank Ltd. graced the event, discussing about Assam’s evolving banking landscape and the opportunities that lie ahead for strengthening financial inclusion, digital adoption, and cooperative banking growth across the state.
The address highlighted Assam’s vision for expanding banking access to underserved regions, supporting rural and agricultural communities, and leveraging technology to enhance customer services.
This was followed by Panel Discussion 2 on Protecting the Cooperative Banking Ecosystem: Modern Cyber & Risk Strategies, moderated by Ravikiran Mankikar, CMD, RKM Consultants, with panelists Ashok Tiwari, CISO, Vasai Vikas Sahakari Bank; Kailash Pawar, CIO & CISO, Pune Peoples Cooperative Bank; Milind Phatak, DGM-IT, Kalyan Janata Sahakari Bank; and Mayur Bidkar, CEO, AUISY Technologies Pvt. Ltd. On the other hand, SIL Infotech Pvt. Ltd simultaneously hosted an exclusive roundtable on end-to-end banking technology solutions.
A fireside chat followed in the main hall, with Balaka Baruah Aggarwal in conversation with Dr. Devdatta Chandgadkar, CEO, SIL Infotech Pvt. Ltd., covering the evolving role of technology partners in cooperative banking. Panel Discussion 3 on Inclusive Growth through Technology: Core Banking Modernisation for Cooperative Banking came next, moderated by Yogesh Valunjkar, Director, DNS Bank, and featuring Ravinder Singh, MD, SVC Bank; Adil Sam Gandhi, CEO, Prime Cooperative Bank Ltd.; IM Sethiya, Chairman, Chittorgarh Urban Cooperative Bank; Vinod Chaplot, CEO, The Udaipur Mahila Samridhi Urban Co-op Bank Ltd.; Dr. Devdatta Chandgadkar, CEO, SIL Infotech Pvt. Ltd.; and Vijay Zende, CTO, AUISY Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
The afternoon ran two more parallel tracks with a Panel Discussion 4 on Customer to Member: Redefining Experience in Cooperative Banking Models was moderated by Prasad Patil, CEO, The Maharashtra Urban Cooperative Banks Federation, with panelists Vandana Vazirani, CEO, Chittorgarh Urban Cooperative Bank; Yogesh Valunjkar, Director, DNS Bank; and Milind Phatak, DGM-IT, Kalyan Janata Sahakari Bank. On the other hand, OPL hosted an exclusive roundtable on Trust, Technology & Transformation: Reinventing Cooperative Banks for a Digital India.
The evening closed with the Bharat Ratna Sahakarita Samman Ceremony 2026, the Partners Felicitation Ceremony, the BNG Leadership Rewards powered by the myBNG App, and a Sufi Night Gala Dinner.
The Bharat Cooperative Banking Summit & Awards is an annual three-day residential retreat for senior leaders of India’s cooperative banks, organised by Bharat Network Group.
| WINNER NAME | CATEGORY 1 | CATEGORY 2 | CATEGORY 3 | ||||
| 1 | THE KALYAN JANATA SAHAKARI BANK LTD | BEST DIGITAL BANK OF THE YEAR | BEST MD/CEO OF THE YEAR ANANT KULKARNI, MD & CEO THE KALYAN JANATA SAHAKARI BANK LTD | BEST WOMAN LEADER OF THE YEAR ADV. SAMPADA KULKARNI, CHAIRPERSON THE KALYAN JANATA SAHAKARI BANK LTD | |||
| 2 | AMBAJOGAI PEOPLES CO OP BANK LTD | BEST CHAIRPERSON OF THE YEAR RAJKISHOAR KANTAPRASAD MODI, CHAIRMAN, AMBAJOGAI PEOPLES CO OP BANK LTD | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | ||||
| 3 | ANNASAHEB MAGAR SAHKARI BANK MARYADIT PUNE | BEST CHAIRPERSON OF THE YEAR NANDKUMAR LANDE, CHAIRMAN, ANNASAHEB MAGAR SAHKARI BANK MARYADIT BHOSARI PUNE | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | ||||
| 4 | BALOTRA URBAN CO-OP. BANK LTD | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | |||||
| 5 | BAREILLY URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | EMERGING DIGITAL BANK AWARD | |||||
| 6 | BASSEIN CATHOLIC CO OPERATIVE BANK | BEST DIGITAL PAYMENTS INITIATIVE | BEST NPA MANAGEMENT | ||||
| 7 | BHAUSAHEB SAHAKARI BANK LTD, UDGIR | BEST CHAIRPERSON OF THE YEAR BHAGWANRAO RAMCHANDRARAO PATIL, CHAIRMAN, BHAUSAHEB SAHAKARI BANK LTD, UDGIR | BEST MD/CEO OF THE YEAR LAXMIKANT KULKARNI, CEO, BHAUSAHEB SAHAKARI BANK LTD, UDGIR | BEST YOUNG LEADER OF THE YEAR SHIVAJI BHAWANRAO PATIL, SENIOR OFFICER, BHAUSAHEB SAHAKARI BANK LTD, UDGIR | |||
| 8 | BHILWARA URBAN CO OPERATIVE BANK LIMITED | BEST NPA MANAGEMENT | |||||
| 9 | CHITTORGARH URBAN COOP BANK LTD CHITTORAGARH | BEST CHAIRPERSON OF THE YEAR DR (CA) I M SETHIYA, CHAIRMAN, CHITTORGARH URBAN COOPERTIVE BANK LTD CHITTORGARH | BEST MD/CEO OF THE YEAR VANDANA VAZIRANI, MD, CHITTORGARH URBAN COOPERTIVE BANK LTD CHITTORGARH | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | |||
| 10 | COSMOS CO-OP. BANK LTD | BEST NPA MANAGEMENT | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | ||||
| 11 | DEOGIRI NAGARI SAHAKARI BANK LTD., CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR | BEST CHAIRPERSON OF THE YEAR KISHORE SHITOLE, CHAIRMAN DEOGIRI NAGARI SAHAKARI BANK LTD | BEST DIGITAL BANK OF THE YEAR | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | |||
| 12 | DOMBIVLI NAGARI SAHAKARI BANK LTD | BEST MOBILE BANKING INITIATIVE | BEST MULTISTATE URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST NPA MANAGEMENT | |||
| 13 | HAVELI SAHAKARI BANK MARYADIT | BEST NPA MANAGEMENT | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | ||||
| 14 | JANATA CO OP BANK LTD., MALEGAON | BEST CHAIRPERSON OF THE YEAR MOHAMMAD LUQMAN MOHAMMAD SULEMAN, CHAIRMAN JANATA CO OP BANK LTD | BEST NPA MANAGEMENT | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | |||
| 15 | LAKHIMPUR URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK LTD | BEST MD/CEO OF THE YEAR SHAVAL GUPTA, CEO LAKHIMPUR URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK LTD | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | ||||
| 16 | LAXMIBAI MAHILA NAGARIK SAHAKARI BANK MARYADIT GWALIOR | BEST CHAIRPERSON OF THE YEAR ALKA SHRIVASTAVA, CHAIRPERSON LAXMIBAI MAHILA NAGARIK SAHAKARI BANK | BEST WOMAN LEADER OF THE YEAR ALKA SHRIVASTAVA, CHAIRPERSON LAXMIBAI MAHILA NAGARIK SAHAKARI BANK | ||||
| 17 | LOKNETE DATTAJI PATIL SAHAKARI BANK LTD., LASALGOAN | BEST CHAIRPERSON OF THE YEAR NANASAHEB PATIL, CHAIRMAN LOKNETE DATTAJI PATIL SAHAKARI BANK LTD | BEST NPA MANAGEMENT | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | |||
| 18 | OPL | BEST AI INNOVATION IN LENDING | |||||
| 19 | POCHAMPALLY COOPERATIVE URBAN BANK LTD | BEST CHAIRPERSON OF THE YEAR RAMESH TADAKA, CHAIRMAN POCHAMPALLY CO-OPERATIVE URBAN BANK LTD | BEST NPA MANAGEMENT | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | |||
| 20 | PRERANA CO OP BANK LTD | BEST CHAIRPERSON OF THE YEAR KANTILAL GUJAR, CHAIRMAN PRERANA CO OP BANK LTD | BEST NPA MANAGEMENT | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | |||
| 21 | PUNE DISTRICT URBAN BANKS ASSOCIATION | BEST CEO OF THE YEAR CHANDRAKANT SHELKE, CEO PUNE DISTRICT URBAN BANKS ASSOCIATION | BEST MANAGEMENT AWARD | ||||
| 22 | PUNE PEOPLES COOPERATIVE BANK LTD | BEST DIGITAL BANK OF THE YEAR | BEST MOBILE BANKING INITIATIVE | BEST MULTISTATE URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | |||
| 23 | RAJARSHI SHAHU SAHAKARI BANK LIMITED PUNE | BEST NPA MANAGEMENT | |||||
| 24 | RAJGURUNAGAR SAHAKARI BANK LTD | BEST NPA MANAGEMENT | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | ||||
| 25 | SADHANA SAHAKARI BANK LTD, PUNE | BEST CHAIRPERSON OF THE YEAR VANDANA KALBHOR, CHAIRMAN SADHANA SAHAKARI BANK LTD | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | ||||
| 26 | SANMITRA SAHAKARI BANK LTD PUNE | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST NPA MANAGEMENT | ||||
| 27 | SARDAR SINGH NAGRIK SAHAKARI BANK MARYADIT, TIKAMGARH | BEST DIGITAL BANK OF THE YEAR | BEST NPA MANAGEMENT | BEST RISK MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE | |||
| 28 | SHARAD SAHAKARI BANK LTD MANCHAR | BEST MD/CEO OF THE YEAR RAJENDRA DESHMUKH, CEO SHARAD SAHAKARI BANK LTD | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | ||||
| 29 | SHIVAJI NAAGARI SAHAKARI BANK LTD., PAITHAN | BEST MD/CEO OF THE YEAR E.I. PATHAN, CEO SHIVAJI NAAGARI SAHAKARI BANK LTD | BEST CHAIRPERSON OF THE YEAR SHRI RAVINDRA SHIVAJIRAO KALE, CHAIRMAN SHIVAJI NAAGARI SAHAKARI BANK LTD | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | |||
| 30 | SIL | BHARAT BANKING BACKBONE AWARD | DIGITAL BANKING MODERNIZATION AWARD | ||||
| 31 | SINDGI URBAN CO OPERATIVE BANK LTD | BEST CTO/IT HEAD OF THE YEAR BASAVARAJ GOGI, HEAD IT SINDGI URBAN CO OPERATIVE BANK LTD | BEST MD/CEO OF THE YEAR BASAVARAJ DEVOOR, CEO SINDGI URBAN CO OPERATIVE BANK LTD | ||||
| 32 | SAHKARMAHARSHI BHAUSAHEB THORAT AMRUTVAHINI SAHAKARI BANK LTD | BEST CHAIRPERSON OF THE YEAR SUDHAKAR JOSHI, CHAIRMAN SAHKARMAHARSHI BHAUSAHEB THORAT AMRUTVAHINI SAHAKARI BANK LTD | BEST MD/CEO OF THE YEAR SUSHIL GUJARATHI, CEO SAHKARMAHARSHI BHAUSAHEB THORAT AMRUTVAHINI SAHAKARI BANK LTD | BEST NPA MANAGEMENT | |||
| 33 | SOLAPUR SIDDHESHWAR SAHAKARI BANK LTD | BEST MOBILE BANKING INITIATIVE | BEST NPA MANAGEMENT | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | |||
| 34 | SVC CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD | BEST CTO/IT HEAD OF THE YEAR AMOL N. DAMLE, GENERAL MANAGER – INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SVC CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD | BEST MULTI-STATE URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST URBAN CO-OPERATIVE BANK | |||
| 35 | TEACHERS CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD | BEST CHAIRPERSON OF THE YEAR K DINAKAR SHETTY, CHAIRMAN TEACHERS’ CO-OPERATIVE BANK LIMITED | BEST NPA MANAGEMENT | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | |||
| 36 | THE ASSAM CO-OPERATIVE APEX BANK LTD | BEST CHAIRPERSON OF THE YEAR BISWAJIT PHUKAN, CHAIRMAN THE ASSAM CO-OPERATIVE APEX BANK LTD | BEST DATA CENTER IMPLEMENTATION | ||||
| 37 | THE BARDOLI NAGRIK SAHAKARI BANK LTD | BEST NPA MANAGEMENT | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | ||||
| 38 | THE GAYATRI CO-OPERATIVE URBAN BANK LTD | BEST DIGITAL BANK OF THE YEAR | BEST MD/CEO OF THE YEAR SRINIVAS VANAMALA, CEO THE GAYATRI COOPERATIVE URBAN BANK LTD | BEST MULTISTATE URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | |||
| 39 | THE GREATER BOMBAY COOPERATIVE BANK | FUTURE READY BANK AWARD | |||||
| 40 | THE GUNTUR CO OPERATIVE URBAN BANK LTD | BEST DIGITAL PAYMENTS INITIATIVE | BEST NPA MANAGEMENT | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | |||
| 41 | THE KURLA NAGARIK SAHAKARI BANK LTD. MUMBAI | BEST CYBER SECURITY INITIATIVE | BEST NPA MANAGEMENT | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | |||
| 42 | THE MAHARAJA CO-OP. URBAN BANK LTD., VISAKHAPATNAM | BEST CHAIRPERSON OF THE YEAR RAMA KRISHNAM RAJU. M, CHAIRMAN THE MAHARAJA CO-OP. URBAN BANK LTD | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | ||||
| 43 | THE MALPUR NAGARIK SAHAKARI BANK LTD | BEST CHAIRPERSON OF THE YEAR MEHTA MITULKUMAR RAJENDRAKUMAR, CHAIRMAN THE MALPUR NAGARIK SAHAKARI BANK LTD | BEST DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR PATEL JASHUBHAI SHIVABHAI, DIRECTOR THE MALPUR NAGARIK SAHAKARI BANK LTD | BEST NPA MANAGEMENT | BEST RISK MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | BEST YOUNG LEADER OF THE YEAR PATEL JASHUBHAI SHIVABHAI, DIRECTOR THE MALPUR NAGARIK SAHAKARI BANK LTD |
| 44 | THE MUNICIPAL CO OP BANK LTD. MUMBAI | BEST CYBER SECURITY INITIATIVE | BEST DATA CENTER IMPLEMENTATION | BEST RISK MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE | |||
| 45 | THE PUTTUR CO-OPERATIVE TOWN BANK LTD | BEST CBS IMPLEMENTATION | BEST CHAIRPERSON OF THE YEAR N. KISHORE KOLATHAYA, CHAIRMAN THE PUTTUR CO-OPERATIVE TOWN BANK LTD | BEST DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR CHANDRA SHEKAR RAO BAPPALIGE, DIRECTOR THE PUTTUR CO-OPERATIVE TOWN BANK LTD | BEST MD/CEO OF THE YEAR B SHEKAR SHETTY, CEO THE PUTTUR CO-OPERATIVE TOWN BANK LTD | BEST MOBILE BANKING INITIATIVE | |
| 46 | THE RAJSAMAND URBAN CO OPERATIVE BANK LTD | BEST CHAIRPERSON OF THE YEAR SHEKHAR KUMAR, CHAIRMAN THE RAJSAMAND URBAN CO OPERATIVE BANK LTD | BEST DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR AJAY KUMAR NARANIYA, VICE CHAIRMAN THE RAJSAMAND URBAN CO OPERATIVE BANK LTD | BEST MD/CEO OF THE YEAR JEEYA RAM VISHNOI, CEO THE RAJSAMAND URBAN CO OPERATIVE BANK LTD | |||
| 47 | THE TALIKOTI SAHAKARI BANK NIYAMIT | BEST CHAIRPERSON OF THE YEAR KASHINATH SAJJAN, CHAIRMAN THE TALIKOTI SAHAKARI BANK NIYAMIT | BEST DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR ISHWARAPPA BILEBHAVI, DIRECTOR THE TALIKOTI SAHAKARI BANK NIYAMIT | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | |||
| 48 | THE UDAIPUR MAHILA SAMRIDHI URBAN CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD. | BEST MAHILA URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | |||||
| 49 | THE UDAIPUR URBAN CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD. | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | |||||
| 50 | THE UDUPI CO OPERTAIVE TOWN BANK LTD | BEST CHAIRPERSON OF THE YEAR H JAYAPRAKASH KEDLAYA, CHAIRMAN THE UDUPI CO OPERATIVE TOWN BANK LTD | BEST DIGITAL PAYMENTS INITIATIVE | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | |||
| 51 | THE VARACHHA COOPERATIVE BANK LTD | BEST DIGITAL BANK OF THE YEAR | BEST MOBILE BANKING INITIATIVE | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | |||
| 52 | VASAI VIKAS SAHAKARI BANK LTD | BEST CHAIRPERSON OF THE YEAR ASHAY RAUT, CHAIRMAN VASAI VIKAS SAHAKARI BANK LTD | BEST DIGITAL BANK OF THE YEAR | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | |||
| 53 | LOKVIKAS NAGARI SAHAKARI BANK | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK | |||||
| 54 | THE BIJNOR URBAN CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD | BEST NPA MANAGEMENT | |||||
| 55 | PRIME COOPERATIVE BANK LTD, GUJARAT | BEST CEO OF THE YEAR ADIL SAM GANDHI, CEO PRIME COOPERATIVE BANK LTD | |||||
| 56 | JIJAU COMMERCIAL CO-OP BANK LTD | BEST URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK |
