Urban Cooperative Banks must strengthen cybersecurity, governance, and risk management frameworks to remain future-ready, said Ashok Kumar Tiwari, Chief Information Security Officer of Vasai Vikas Sahakari Bank Ltd., while addressing the Bharat Cooperative Banking Summit 2026 in Lucknow.
Tiwari said RBI-CSITE audits should be seen as an opportunity to enhance cyber resilience, IT governance, business continuity, and regulatory compliance rather than merely meeting compliance requirements.
He emphasized the growing importance of vendor risk management, data governance, and cybersecurity oversight as banks increasingly rely on digital platforms and third-party service providers.
Highlighting future challenges, he said AI Governance and AI Security Governance would become critical focus areas for banks, alongside compliance with the DPDP Act, 2023. He also pointed to the shortage of skilled IT and cybersecurity professionals as a major concern for the cooperative banking sector.
Showcasing VVSB Bank’s technology transformation journey, Tiwari said the bank has made significant investments in cybersecurity and digital banking, including an AI-enabled Robotics Locker System. At the summit, VVSB Bank won three awards, Best Urban Cooperative Bank of the Year 2026, Best Digital Bank of the Year 2026, and Best Chairman of the Year 2026 for Ashay Raut.
