PRNewswire

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], June 1: CRIF India, part of the global CRIF network, has launched the first regional chapter of 'Credit Goes to HER' in Kolkata, West Bengal, focused on strengthening women's leadership and influence in the credit ecosystem. The initiative, launched in March this year is designed to drive grassroots impact by building a community of women professionals who are both shaping credit and enabling access to credit for women across segments. This comes at a time when women are playing an increasingly significant role in India's formal credit economy yet remain underrepresented in leadership roles that shape credit policies and products.

Insights show that nationally, women-led business loans have grown by 61.1%, and women now account for 41% of new-to-credit borrowers (up from 33% two years ago). Women borrowers also demonstrate strong credit behaviour, with lower delinquency levels compared to men, and a rising presence in secured lending segments. 'Credit Goes to HER' seeks to build on this momentum by bringing together women professionals across lending, risk, analytics, NBFCs, fintech, and policy, creating a platform to amplify their voice and participation in shaping the future of credit.

Kolkata has been chosen for the first regional chapter given Eastern India's robust credit growth and lending landscape. West Bengal's retail credit market witnessed healthy growth as of March 2026, with total retail loans rising 17.2% YoY to 583.9K crore, while active loans grew 8.9% YoY to 332 lakh accounts. Consumption loans stood at 368.4K crore, up 13% YoY, led by strong growth in Gold Loans (+54.1% YoY) and Sole-proprietor Loans (+25.2% YoY).

The Kolkata chapter will serve as a local arm of the community platform for women across banks, NBFCs, fintechs, and other financial services to share knowledge, seek mentorship and collaborate on more inclusive credit practices. The launch event in Kolkata saw participation from senior women leaders of the region's BFSI sector, including Nina Bairagi (Deputy General Manager, State Bank of India), Arpita Sen (Senior Vice President, Bandhan Bank), Jyoti Sharma (General Manager, UCO Bank), and Sharoni Pal (Head of Credit, Arohan Financial Services Limited).

Join the community: (5) Credit Goes To HER - Women in Credit, Credit for Women (Curated by CRIF India) | Groups | LinkedIn

About CRIF:

CRIF India is a leading provider of credit information, business intelligence, analytics, software and digital solutions for banks, financial institutions, NBFCs, insurance companies, telecom providers, MSMEs, corporates, and consumers across India. Through its group entities, including CRIF High Mark Credit Information Services Private Limited and CRIF Solutions, CRIF India supports responsible lending, financial inclusion, and data-driven decision-making.

Licensed by the Reserve Bank of India under the Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act, 2005, CRIF High Mark operates one of India's leading credit bureaus with data contributions from over 5,000 member institutions. Combining advanced analytics, decisioning platforms, business information, and digital solutions, CRIF India enables organizations to make faster, smarter, and more informed decisions across the customer lifecycle while contributing to a more transparent and inclusive financial ecosystem.

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