SBI aims to complete the modernization of its core banking infrastructure within the next two years

To encourage innovation, SBI has developed a sandbox and innovation hub, which provides access to nearly 300 APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) that enable fintechs to test and integrate their solutions with the bank’s systems | Photo credit: KSL

India’s largest bank is also building a private cloud infrastructure to ensure scalability while maintaining regulatory compliance and data security.

Tewari highlighted that the bank’s roadmap to transform its legacy systems includes a four-axis strategy: upgrading the hardware, migrating from Unix to Linux, gutting the core by externalizing functions such as vendor and government payments, and introducing microservices for operations such as queries and accounting.

“We are modernizing as we steer the ship. Our systems must always remain on and available to customers,” he said at the Singapore Fintech Fest.

Innovation hub

To encourage innovation, Tewari noted that SBI has developed a sandbox and innovation hub, which provides access to nearly 300 APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) that allow fintechs to test and integrate their solutions with the bank’s systems.

Along with flexibility, convenience, intuitiveness, interface, security and compliance, the ability to meet SBI’s scale of operations is a crucial parameter for fintech onboarding, he added.

The SBI MD highlighted that the bank, through a fintech partner, is deploying agentic AI to verify trade finance documents such as guarantees and letters of credit, enabling both internal teams and customers to achieve faster and more accurate processing. He noted that AI applications are also being explored in areas such as service ticket resolution and document analysis to improve operational efficiency.

Published on November 13, 2025