MAM
YES BANK becomes the first bank to offer ‘ONDC Network Gift Card’
Mumbai: YES BANK today, announced that it has become the first bank in the country to issue an ‘ONDC Network Gift Card’. This marks a transformative shift in the way India shops and aims to revolutionise the shopping experience for Indian consumers.
The ONDC Network Gift Card, issued in partnership with Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), is at the forefront of democratising digital commerce. Unlike traditional gift cards, this groundbreaking concept empowers customers to utilise the gift card for purchasing products from any brand and any seller across a wide array of segments, including food, fashion, handicrafts, electronics, home essentials, health and wellbeing.
The ONDC Network Gift Card is open for sponsorship and utilisation by corporate and individual customers, enabling them to extend thoughtful gestures to their customers, employees, or their loved ones. This innovative card leverages the robust Rupay network and offers the flexibility to load up to Rs 10,000/-
YES BANK country head – of Digital & Transaction Banking Ajay Rajan said “At YES BANK, it is our constant endeavour to leverage technology to bring forth solutions that provide customers as well as clients with a rewarding banking experience. We are delighted to be the first bank to partner with ONDC to introduce this specially curated Network Gift Card that offers customers with the flexibility to choose from a wide array of products from across segments. Being a pioneer in digital acceleration, our focus is on creating a robust digital infrastructure for business and commerce. With the launch of the ONDC Network Gift Card, customers can enjoy an unrestricted shopping experience during the ongoing festive season.”
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YES Bank hands the keys to SBI veteran Vinay Tonse as it bets on a new era
Former SBI managing director appointed as YES Bank’s new MD and CEO
MUMBAI: YES Bank is done rebuilding. Now it wants to grow. The private sector lender has appointed Vinay Muralidhar Tonse as managing director and chief executive officer-designate, with RBI approval secured and a start date of April 6, 2026 confirmed. The three-year term signals the bank’s intent to shift gears from crisis recovery to full-throttle expansion.
Tonse, 60, is no stranger to scale. Most recently managing director at State Bank of India, he oversaw a retail book of roughly $800bn in deposits and advances, one of the largest in the country. Before that, he ran SBI Mutual Fund from August 2020 to December 2022, a stint that saw assets under management surge from Rs 4.32 lakh crore to Rs 7.32 lakh crore across market cycles. Add stints in Singapore and four years leading SBI’s overseas operations in Osaka, and the incoming chief arrives with a genuinely global CV.
His academic grounding is equally solid: a commerce degree from St Joseph’s College of Commerce, Bengaluru, and a master’s in commerce from Bangalore University.
The appointment follows an extensive search and evaluation process by the bank’s Nomination and Remuneration Committee. NRC chairperson Nandita Gurjar said the committee unanimously backed Tonse, citing his leadership track record, governance credentials and ability to drive the bank’s next phase of transformation.
Non-executive chairman Rama Subramaniam Gandhi was unequivocal. “I am certain that Vinay Tonse, with his vast experience as a senior banker, will propel YES Bank to its next phase of growth,” Gandhi said, adding that the bank remains focused on strengthening its retail and corporate banking franchises and expanding its branch network.
Rajeev Kannan, non-executive director and senior executive at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, the bank’s largest shareholder, said Tonse’s experience across retail, corporate banking, global markets and asset management positioned him well to lead the lender. SMBC said it looks forward to working with Tonse and the board as YES Bank pursues its ambition of becoming a top-tier private sector lender anchored in strong governance and sustainable growth.
Tonse succeeds Prashant Kumar, who took the helm in March 2020 when YES Bank was in freefall following a severe financial crisis, and spent six years painstakingly stabilising the institution, rebuilding governance and restoring operational scale. Gandhi was generous: “The bank remains indebted to Prashant Kumar, who is responsible for much of what a strong financial powerhouse YES Bank is today.”
Tonse, for his part, struck a purposeful note. “Together with the board and my colleagues, I remain deeply committed to creating long-term value for all our stakeholders,” he said, pledging to build on Kumar’s foundation guided by his personal motto: Make A Difference.
Beyond the balance sheet, Tonse played cricket at college and club level and represented Karnataka in archery at the national championships — sports he credits with teaching him teamwork, situational leadership, discipline and focus. In quieter moments, he reaches for retro Kannada music, classic Hindi songs, and the crooning of Engelbert Humperdinck, Mukesh and Kishore Kumar.
YES Bank has its steady-handed rebuilder in Kumar to thank for survival. Now it has a scale-obsessed growth banker at the wheel. The next chapter starts April 6.
