The Citizen Advocate Summary: Declaring
April 11 as Safe ePay Day
Proposing April 11 as Safe ePay
Day to mark UPI’s pilot launch on April 11, 2016, by NPCI with 21 banks,
initiated by Dr. Raghuram G. Rajan in Mumbai. This initiative celebrates UPI’s
seamless integration of banking and merchant payments.
August 23 – Appeal No 93
April 11 – Declare ‘Safe ePay
Day’,
Yes, April 11 is vacant in the UN
Observance Day calendar
UPI 10th
Birthday -April 11 2026 – 231 Days to go
August 23 – Bandhan
Bank 10 Years: Inspiring My Appeal for Safe ePay Day
Bandhan Bank, starting as a
microfinance institution, became a universal bank on August 23, 2015, and has
grown to serve over 31 million customers with ₹1.55 lakh crore in deposits and
₹1.34 lakh crore in advances by June 30, 2025. It marked its 10th anniversary
by introducing the premium 'Legacy' savings account, reinforcing its commitment
to inclusive and sustainable growth.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 23 – Bandhan
Bank @10: Reflections on a Decade and My Appeal for Safe ePay Day 🌱💳
A Decade of Bandhan, A Vision for
Safe ePay
On August 23, 2025,
Bandhan Bank marked 10 years of banking operations. What began in 2015
with just 501 branches has grown into a trusted network of more than 6,350
outlets across India, serving customers from metro cities to the most
remote villages.
I am not affiliated with Bandhan
Bank, but I find this milestone deeply inspiring.
To me, it represents the power of
trust, resilience, and inclusion in India’s financial story. And as someone who
advocates for the proposed April 11 Safe ePay Day, I see a meaningful
connection: Bandhan Bank’s decade of financial inclusion and my vision of safe
digital payments are both built on the same foundation—trust.
🌱 Bandhan Bank: A Story of
Inclusion
Bandhan’s story is unlike any
other in Indian banking.
- 2001: Began as an NGO in West
Bengal, offering microcredit to underserved households.
- 2006: Transitioned into an NBFC.
- 2010: Became the largest
microfinance institution in India.
- 2015: Transformed into a
universal bank—the first MFI in India to make that leap.
This transition was not just a
regulatory move; it was a cultural shift. Microfinance thrives on personal
relationships and trust, while banking demands systems, compliance, and
scalability. To combine both worlds required courage and vision.
📊 Growth Snapshot (2015 → 2025):
- Branches: 501 →
6,350+
- Sales: ₹3,909 crore (2017) → ₹21,948 crore (2025)
- Net Profit: ₹1,112 crore (2017)
→ ₹2,745 crore (2025)
- Book Value per Share:
₹40.6 → ₹151.21
- ROE (10 years):
~13%
- Profit Growth CAGR:
~133%
For me, what stands out is that
Bandhan grew not by chasing only urban elites, but by serving the underserved.
A farmer in Bihar, a weaver in Assam, a street vendor in Mumbai—all found
support because Bandhan believed in them. 🌾
Even leadership has reflected
this ethos. Founder and CEO Chandra Shekhar Ghosh, who retired in 2024,
was known for keeping his office walls filled with photos of ordinary women
borrowers—constant reminders of why Bandhan existed in the first place. That
spirit of inclusion is what I admire most.
🔒 Safe ePay Day: My Advocacy
While Bandhan was building
financial access across India, the country’s financial ecosystem was also
transforming through digital payments.
From the launch of net banking
to the explosion of UPI, from QR codes in roadside tea stalls to digital
wallets in high-rise malls, the way we transact has changed forever. India now
records billions of transactions monthly through UPI alone—an
achievement that has put us on the global fintech map.
But with every opportunity comes
risk. Reports of phishing scams, fake UPI apps, OTP frauds, and digital
payment thefts remind me daily that while inclusion has expanded, safety
often lags behind. A grandmother in a small town learning to scan QR codes
should not also have to learn the hard way about fraud.
That is why I advocate for the
proposed Safe ePay Day (April 11).
💡 My vision: Safe ePay Day should be a
global observance to spread awareness, encourage secure practices, and remind
policymakers that digital trust is the backbone of modern finance.
Why April 11? 🌐
On April 11, 2016, the UPI pilot was launched, creating a
payments revolution. To me, it feels symbolic and fitting to mark this day as
one where we not only celebrate digital progress but also recommit ourselves to
digital safety.
📅 Two Dates That Inspire Me today:
-
- August 23 (2015–2025):
Bandhan Bank’s 10-year journey of inclusion.
- April 11 (proposed):
Safe ePay Day, to ensure digital safety in our future.
These two dates, though unrelated
officially, tell a story that resonates with me: India’s journey from microfinance
handshakes to digital shields. 🤝🛡️
🕯️ Looking Back on the Day
Now that August 23, 2025 has
passed, I reflect not only on the milestone itself but also on what it means
going forward. While Bandhan Bank’s official anniversary events may have
concluded, the symbolism of the day lives on for me as an individual observer.
It reminded me of how far India
has come in making banking accessible to those once excluded. It also
reinforced my belief that the next frontier is digital safety.
For me, the connection is clear:
Just as Bandhan Bank built confidence among people who had never trusted formal
finance before, Safe ePay Day can build confidence among digital users—ensuring
that empowerment through technology is not overshadowed by fear of fraud.
🤝
Shared DNA: Trust
At
first glance, Bandhan Bank’s anniversary and Safe ePay Day might seem
different—one celebrates an institution, the other a digital ideal. But both
share the same DNA: trust.
- Bandhan’s
Trust: A woman taking a small loan to buy a sewing machine, confident the
bank will walk with her.
- Safe
ePay’s Trust: A student paying tuition via UPI, confident her money is
safe.
Trust—whether
physical or digital—is the invisible currency of all transactions.
🤝 What Unites Both
Though different, I see Bandhan’s
10 years and Safe ePay Day sharing the same heartbeat: trust.
- Bandhan’s Trust: A
woman taking a small loan to buy a sewing machine, confident in repayment
support.
- Safe ePay’s Trust: A
student paying fees via UPI, confident her money will reach safely.
Trust is the invisible currency
that powers all financial systems—physical or digital. 💱
🌐 Looking Ahead
The next decade of finance will
be shaped by technologies we are only beginning to understand:
- AI-powered banking assistants
that offer personalized financial advice.
- Blockchain-based payments
enabling tamper-proof, cross-border transfers.
- Biometric authentication
becoming mainstream for security.
- Cybersecurity frameworks
becoming as important as banking regulations.
But amidst this innovation, two
principles must remain non-negotiable:
1.
Everyone must be included.
2.
Everyone must be safe.
Bandhan has shown what inclusion
looks like on the ground. Safe ePay Day, if realized, can show what safety
looks like in the digital space.
✨ Closing Reflection
As Bandhan Bank turned 10 on August
23, 2025, I took inspiration from its journey of inclusion and trust.
And as I look ahead to April
11 Safe ePay Day (proposed), I see a future where that same trust extends
into every digital payment—safe, seamless, and secure.
🌱 From microfinance roots to digital
shields, the journey of trust inspires me.
💳 From Bandhan’s first loan
to our latest UPI transactions, trust remains the true currency.
“10 Years of Bandhan. Forever
Safe with ePay.” ✨
Appeal for Safe ePay Day 🌟
## Call to Action
I urge governments, financial institutions, businesses, and
communities worldwide to join hands in declaring April 11 as **Safe ePay Day**.
Let’s celebrate UPI’s milestone by making **Safe ePay Day** a
global movement for secure, innovative fintech.
Together, we can build a future where financial access is
universal, and every e-payment is safe—starting with **Safe ePay Day** in 2026.
No Vada Pav, not even one bite,
Till SafeePay Day takes off in flight.
Quirky vow with a Mumbai flair—
Announce the date, and I’ll be there!
Disclaimer:
- The only Joy is Safe ePayments. Nothing More – Nothing Less.
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