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Infosys and Citizens set up AI banking innovation hub in Bengaluru
BENGALURU: Infosys has found a new way to make banking less buttoned-up and a lot more brainy. The IT major has teamed up with US lender Citizens to launch an AI-first Innovation Hub in Bengaluru, with one clear aim: rethink how banks work, build and serve customers in the age of artificial intelligence.
The hub will act as a live experimentation ground where ideas can move quickly from whiteboards to working products. From sharper digital services to smoother internal operations, the focus is on using AI not as a bolt-on, but as the engine under the bonnet of modern banking.
Infosys will play a central role as one of Citizens’ strategic AI delivery partners, bringing its experience in artificial intelligence, cloud computing and cybersecurity. At the heart of the collaboration is Infosys Topaz Fabric, a multi-layer AI platform designed to connect data, models, applications and workflows into one streamlined system. In simpler terms, it helps banks build and launch new digital products faster, with fewer moving parts and less friction.
This latest initiative builds on an existing partnership between the two companies and strengthens Citizens’ push to become a technology-led super regional bank. The Bengaluru hub also reflects the bank’s longer-term bet on building a global, future-ready workforce where AI skills are part of everyday work rather than a specialist corner.
For Citizens, the promise is more secure, personalised and intuitive banking for customers. For Infosys, it is another showcase of how its AI-first approach can reshape large, complex financial institutions.
Citizens Financial Group chief information officer Michael Ruttledge, said the hub signals a long-term commitment to modern and intelligent banking. By embedding advanced AI at the core, the bank aims to deliver services that feel faster, safer and more relevant to customers.
Infosys global head of banking and financial services Dennis Gada, said banks today face the twin pressures of rapid modernisation and rising customer expectations. The collaboration, he noted, helps Citizens move faster while laying the groundwork for long-term growth.
In an industry often seen as conservative, the Bengaluru hub suggests a shift in tone. Banking’s future, it seems, is not just about numbers and compliance, but about curiosity, collaboration and a smarter use of machines to make human lives a little easier.
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Bajaj Consumer Care FY26 profit rises to Rs 193.7 crore
Revenue climbs to Rs 1,092 crore as profit grows 49 per cent YoY
MUMBAI: Hair today, growth tomorrow Bajaj Consumer Care Limited seems to have found its shine again, posting a sharp jump in profitability even as it doubled down on brand spends and expansion. The company reported a net profit of Rs 193.7 crore for FY26, marking a strong 49 per cent rise from Rs 130.1 crore in FY25. Revenue from operations also grew to Rs 1,092.2 crore, up from Rs 942.8 crore a year earlier, signalling steady demand momentum across its portfolio.
For the March quarter, profit stood at Rs 64.1 crore, compared to Rs 31.5 crore in the corresponding period last year, while revenue rose to Rs 308.3 crore from Rs 243.5 crore.
The performance came despite a notable increase in spending. Advertising and sales promotion expenses climbed to Rs 168.3 crore in FY26, up from Rs 137.8 crore in FY25, reflecting continued investment in brand building. Other expenses also rose to Rs 151.3 crore from Rs 134.2 crore, indicating a broader push towards growth.
Operating efficiency, however, held firm. Profit before tax increased to Rs 234.8 crore in FY26 from Rs 157.7 crore a year earlier, supported by disciplined cost management across materials and inventory.
On the balance sheet, the company’s total assets expanded to Rs 959.1 crore as of March 31, 2026, compared to Rs 931.9 crore a year earlier. Other equity rose to Rs 780.3 crore, reinforcing a stronger financial base.
Cash flow from operations saw a significant uptick, reaching Rs 196.9 crore in FY26, nearly three times the Rs 67.9 crore recorded in FY25, highlighting improved working capital management.
However, the year also saw aggressive capital allocation. The company spent Rs 190.2 crore on share buybacks, contributing to a net cash outflow of Rs 196.5 crore from financing activities. Cash and cash equivalents stood at Rs 6.8 crore at the end of the year, down from Rs 25.6 crore.
Even as investments in subsidiaries and assets continued, the numbers suggest a company balancing growth ambitions with shareholder returns keeping one eye on expansion and the other on efficiency.
With margins improving and revenue steadily climbing, Bajaj Consumer Care appears to be combing through the competition with renewed confidence.
