Rajendra Bhalerao has been appointed as the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) of Central Bank of India, marking a strategic addition to the bank’s leadership team at a time of heightened cybersecurity focus in the financial sector.
With over two decades of expertise in information security, risk management, and digital payments security, Bhalerao will now lead the bank’s cybersecurity strategy and operations. His mandate includes strengthening Central Bank’s cyber resilience and safeguarding its digital infrastructure amid an evolving threat landscape.
Bhalerao brings a strong track record across leading financial institutions. Prior to this, he served as CISO at Scotiabank for more than four years, where he spearheaded initiatives aligned with global cybersecurity standards. He also held senior security roles at SBM Bank (India) and Paytm Payments Bank, focusing on governance and digital risk frameworks.
Earlier, during his tenure at the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), Bhalerao played a key role in securing the country’s rapidly expanding digital payments ecosystem. His prior experience at IndusInd Bank further shaped his expertise in enterprise-level cybersecurity controls.
Beyond his corporate contributions, Bhalerao has been actively involved with the ISACA Mumbai Chapter, where he led several key initiatives around cybersecurity best practices, including PCI-DSS compliance, SOC management, WAF deployment, and support for ISO 27001 certification.
His appointment is expected to bolster Central Bank of India’s cyber defense capabilities, ensuring a proactive and resilient approach to digital banking security.
