## Fino Payments Bank Appoints Ex-RBI Deputy Legal Advisor Abhilash Ankathil as Chief Compliance Officer
Fino Payments Bank has moved decisively to fill a critical regulatory role, appointing former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) deputy legal advisor Abhilash Ankathil as its new Chief Compliance Officer (CCO). The appointment, effective April 6, follows the abrupt departure of the previous CCO, Aashish Pathak, who resigned citing personal reasons at the end of March. Ankathil's hiring directly from the central bank's legal department signals a strategic reinforcement of Fino's compliance leadership during a period of heightened regulatory scrutiny for India's fintech sector.

Ankathil brings over 25 years of direct experience within the RBI and the broader financial ecosystem, with deep expertise in payment system regulation, legislative drafting, and enforcement actions. His regulatory filing states he has led legal teams at the RBI, advised operational units, and played a key role in shaping regulatory frameworks. This background is a significant asset for Fino, a listed fintech major operating in the tightly governed payments bank space. His appointment for a three-year term provides stability after a swift leadership transition in a core function.

The move underscores the intense pressure on fintech firms to navigate an evolving and complex regulatory landscape. Bringing a former regulator into a top compliance role is a clear signal to both the market and the authorities of Fino's commitment to robust governance. This personnel shift at the top deck highlights the critical importance of regulatory expertise as a competitive and operational necessity, where direct experience with the rule-making and enforcement apparatus of the RBI can be a decisive advantage.
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- **Source**: Inc42
- **Sector**: The Vault
- **Tags**: Regulatory Compliance, Fintech, RBI, Leadership Change, Payments Bank
- **Credibility**: unverified
- **Published**: 2026-04-06 15:29:10
- **ID**: 51651
- **URL**: https://whisperx.ai/en/intel/51651