State Bank of India Country Head Ashwini Tewari given a warm Farewell

Community leaders laud the banker’s stellar contribution

NEW YORK (TIP): “The State Bank of India, which is the leading Indian bank, has been here in New York City since 1968. And then in 1973, we opened our branch, so we are here for long time – close to 50 years. So, perhaps we will have a great celebration in 2022. I’ll be remotely associated with it. It is just for the Indian community because when we came in here – at that time – there was hardly any corporate connection. It was largely for the Indian community. And therefore, till this date, one of the key functions of the bank is to serve the community, to be the connection of the community to India. It’s not that the community does not have choices. It has choices not to bank with us. We will be very happy if the community continues to associate with the bank”, said Mr. Ashwini Tewari, Country Head US Operations of State Bank of India. .

Mr. Tewari was addressing community leaders and fellow bankers at a farewell reception hosted by The Indian Panorama, a leading English Weekly on the East Coast, on July 16.

Mr. Ashwini Kumar Tewari is presented a plaque by The Indian Panorama and the Federation of Indians Associations NY/NJ/CT (FIA). Seen in the front row , from left to right: FIA Chairman Mr. Ankur Vaidya, Acting Consul General of India at New York Mr. Shatrughna Sinha, Prof. Indrajit S Saluja, Mr. Ashwini Kumar Tewari, FIA President Mr. Anil Bansal, Mr. Jarnail Singh, owner of Richi Rich

Speaking about the importance the bank attaches to human relationships, Mr. Tewari said, “We have the best people. You want a nice warm feeling when you come to the bank. That is what you want. We offer a human connection”.

Mr. Ashwini Tewari addressing the gathering

Mr. Tewari spoke about a scheme his bank introduced to benefit senior citizens. “For any senior citizen we offer slightly higher rate of interest. There was an amazing story from here – One senior citizen came and you will be surprised to know – we had so many customers, not only Indians, white people who said this is a bank which calls me and recognizes me. I just can walk in and talk to people and get it. We earned 30-40 million in just a year in that deposit”

Mr. Tewari said he had had a wonderful stay in New York. He enjoyed working with his colleagues who extended their best cooperation, and his relationship with community which he will cherish forever.

Mr. Ashwini Kumar Tewari had taken over as Country Head , US Operations in April 2017. New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Sao Paulo and Washington DC are under the country head’s jurisdiction.

Mr. Tewari who holds a bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Electrical), is CFPCM certified and ACAMS certified. He is a career banker with over 29 years’ experience with State Bank of India in India and outside. Having joined as a directly recruited officer in 1991, Mr. Tewari has handled assignments in diverse areas of Credit, International Banking and Retail Banking, including Business Re-engineering and Technology. Prior to his assignment as Country Head, US Operations, he was Regional Head and General Manager, East Asia of State Bank of India, Hong Kong and oversaw the business development and control of State Bank of India in Hong Kong, China, Japan, Korea and the neighboring region.

Mr. Tewari served in diverse positions which include Deputy General Manager, (Operations & Information Systems), International Banking Group, Mumbai, Head of SBI’s Cash Management, Regional Manager, Branch Head etc.

Mr. Tewari now goes as MD and CEO of State Bank Cards and will be stationed at Gurgaon.

Laudatory remarks were made by a couple of community leaders which included FIA President Mr. Anil Bansal, Jaipur Foot Executive Member Mr. Alok Kumar, eminent attorney Ravi Batra , and Prof. Indrajit S Saluja, publisher/ editor of The Indian Panorama.

Warm welcome to Mr. Ashwini Kumar Tewari with a bouquet from Anu Jain

Apeksha extends a flowery welcome to Mr. Shatrughna Sinha. Mr. Tewari, on extreme right, is seen applauding

Earlier, Mr. Ashwini Tewari and Mr. Shatrughna Sinha were greeted with bouquets.

Mr. Virendra Bansal, successor to Mr. Tewari pledged to carry forward his predecessor’s legacy

The distinguished gathering included Mr. Shatrughna Sinha, Acting Consul General , Ms Apeksha, Mr. Virendra Bansal (SBI) , Ms. Prem Lata (SBI), Mr. BLS Elango CE BOB , Mr. Patra, AGM BOB, Mr. Lokesh Kumar CE. BOI, Mr. Abhay Kumar CE Canara Bank, Mr. Anil Bansal President FIA , Mr. Ankur Vaidya, Chairman FIA , Mr. Alok Kumar , EM Jaipur Foot , Dr. Sunil Mehrra , former President AAPI -QLI, Ms Anu Jain, Director- Jain Foundation and EM RANA , Harish Thakkar President AIA, Mr. Prem Bhandari, President Jaipur Foot USA, Mr. Ravi Batra, Attorney, Ms Malini Shah, Mr. Jarnail Singh, Former President, Gurdwara Baba Makhan Shah Lobana, and Prof. Indrajit S Saluja.

Among the media persons present were Mr. Gurinder Hothi from PTC TV , Mr. Pradeep Singh from Global Punjab TV , Mr. Zahid from TV Asia. and Mr. HP Singh from Parikh Worldwide.

Prof. Indrajit S Saluja who emceed, thanked the gathering for having made it to the event despite of the COVID challenge.