Neeraj Aggarwal: Guiding The Next Chapter Of Banking Modernization In India

India’s financial system is going through one of its most important periods of change. Digital services are expanding, regulations are tightening and customer expectations are rising every month. Behind this shift is a growing need for people who can guide banks through complex modernization programs with clarity and long-term thinking.

One of the professionals shaping this space is Neeraj Aggarwal, whose career has been built around helping global financial institutions upgrade the systems that power their daily operations.

A Career Built Around Modernization

Aggarwal’s professional journey has revolved around fixing old systems, building new ones and guiding teams through major technology shifts. While working in the United States, he led modernization programs for Tier 0 payment systems at multiple Fortune 500 companies. These programs delivered measurable results such as faster processing speeds, lower operating costs and improved system resilience.

Instead of relying on traditional upgrade approaches, Aggarwal combined AI driven automation, hybrid cloud frameworks and Zero Trust security models. He believes these three elements are now essential for any financial institution planning to serve customers in a digital world.

What sets him apart is his collaborative style. He has often managed programs that required multiple vendors, sometimes with competing interests. His approach focuses on fairness, transparency and shared ownership of outcomes. This has earned him recognition within the banking technology community.

His View on India’s Modernization Journey

Aggarwal has followed India’s digital transformation closely. From UPI to advanced cybersecurity policies, he sees India as a country that has the potential to leap ahead because of its population size and its appetite for digital services. But he also believes the next phase requires stronger modernization efforts within banks.

According to him, many institutions still depend on legacy systems that create risks, slow down innovation and increase operational costs. He advocates for platforms that are cloud native, AI ready and secure from the ground up. His belief is simple: modernization is not a luxury, it is a necessity for banks that hope to remain relevant in a highly competitive landscape.

He often highlights the importance of ethical AI, regulatory compliance and customer centric design. His experience reviewing research papers for IEEE conferences gives him a global lens on how countries are approaching digital transformation. He believes India can build systems that support both efficiency and inclusion when modernization programs are implemented with long term vision.

Recognition and Industry Credibility

Aggarwal’s work has been recognized at several platforms. His team received the Best Use of Innovative Technology Award at the BIAN Banking Summit in Chicago in 2025. He has also earned multiple Credo Awards at Citizens Bank, which reflect his ability to deliver programs that align with business priorities while upholding Infosys values such as integrity and client first thinking.

In addition, Aggarwal is a Life Fellow of the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (IETE), one of India’s most prestigious professional societies. This fellowship underscores his long-term contributions to advancing technology standards and his standing among global peers.

He has also served as a keynote speaker at international conferences, where he shared insights on ethical AI, payment modernization, and digital transformation. These engagements highlight his influence in shaping global conversations on the future of banking technology.

These achievements have helped position him among professionals who are shaping how modern banking systems are designed and deployed.

His Contribution Beyond Work

Aggarwal is also active in the technology community. He mentors professionals on ADPList, Alchemist-Accelerators and supports early-stage startups through the Alchemist Accelerator. His fellowship at IETE (Apex body of Electronic & Computer Engineers), Raptors. Dev (London) is a reflection of his contributions to fair mentorship, ethical leadership and technical excellence.

He often shares insights with young engineers who are trying to enter the world of AI driven transformation. For him, modernization is not just a technical process. It is a people centered journey where teams need guidance, clarity and confidence to adapt to change.

A Leader Focused on the Future

Aggarwal believes India’s banks are entering a defining decade. With fintechs reshaping expectations and regulatory pressures increasing, he sees a need for stronger technology foundations. His view is that banks should prioritize cloud native platforms, real time compliance systems, stronger interoperability and AI models built on transparency and fairness.

His career demonstrates how modernization can unlock efficiency, trust and long-term stability. Through his work, he continues to advocate for systems that are secure, scalable and inclusive.

About Neeraj Aggarwal

Neeraj Aggarwal is a Senior Technical Program Manager at Infosys with deep expertise in financial technology modernization. He has worked across Fortune 500 companies where he led programs in AI driven automation, payment modernization, and transformation design and enterprise scale architecture. Known for his focus on ethical AI and accessible financial systems, he contributes to various national and international conferences as Keynote speaker, research communities, mentors professionals and supports startups working on technology driven innovation. He is a Life Fellow member at IETE (The Institution of Electronic and Telecommunication Engineers, New Delhi, India), considered as National Apex body for Electronic, Computer and Telecom professionals. His career blends technical leadership with a commitment to building systems that are responsible, future ready and aligned with societal needs.