Savers To Investors | Kotak Mahindra Bank CEO Ashok Vaswani On India’s New Investor Mindset

In an exclusive conversation with Siddharth Zarabi, Editor of Business Today, Ashok Vaswani, CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank, shared insights into India's evolving financial landscape. Addressing India's shift from being a nation of savers to one of investors, Vaswani highlighted the significant flow of funds into mutual funds through SIPs, with monthly contributions reaching impressive figures like ₹21,000–₹24,000 crores. He emphasized that the Indian consumer is inherently more financially savvy than their counterparts in the U.S. or U.K., attributing this to cultural upbringing that values financial acumen. This financial awareness drives Indian consumers to seek better returns through mutual funds and stock markets. Discussing the deposit mobilization challenge, Vaswani noted that deposits typically align with GDP growth and economic activity. While there may be periodic fluctuations, overall deposit levels are expected to sustain as economic momentum persists. This shift reflects the growing financial maturity and confidence of Indian consumers in navigating the investment landscape.