Quick Take
- Slice Bank opened India’s first AI phygital branch, Asam Geta, in Guwahati .
- The branch uses AI kiosks and UPI-based credit, letting customers borrow in minutes without forms.
- Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and NPCI head Dilip Asbe attended the inauguration.
Slice Small Finance Bank opened India’s first AI phygital branch (a banking space that combines physical and digital services) named Asam Geta, at GS Road, Guwahati . “Asam Geta” is an Assamese phrase that roughly means “Our Assam” or “Assam’s Own.”
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated the branch alongside Rajan Bajaj, MD and CEO of Slice Small Finance Bank, and Dilip Asbe, MD and CEO of NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India). The branch is designed to serve small shopkeepers, women entrepreneurs, and first-time borrowers across Guwahati and eventually the wider Northeast.
StartupFeed Insight
The Asam Geta launch quietly reveals a deliberate strategy: Slice has made Guwahati, not Bengaluru or Mumbai, the anchor for its boldest product experiments. That is not accidental. The bank’s registered office is in Guwahati, its SFB licence is rooted in the Northeast, and now its most visible AI product debuts there too. No other small finance bank in India has a comparable AI phygital branch model. The financial inclusion opportunity in Northeast India remains large and underpenetrated, with significant populations still relying on informal credit. Watch for Slice to announce Asam Geta-type branches in 2-3 more Assam cities by Q3 FY27, with Dibrugarh and Jorhat the most likely next stops, StartupFeed Desk.
Asam Geta at a Glance
| Metric | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Branch Name | Asam Geta | Assamese for “Our Assam” or “Assam’s Own” |
| Location | GS Road, Guwahati, Assam | Slice’s registered office city |
| Launch Date | May 16, 2026 | Inaugurated by CM Himanta Biswa Sarma |
| Core Technology | AI-enabled self-service kiosks | Paperless cash deposits and withdrawals |
| Credit Access | Directly via UPI interface | No separate loan application needed |
| Onboarding | Fully paperless, in-branch | End-to-end digital account opening |
| Bank | Slice Small Finance Bank | Formed from Slice-NESFB merger, October 2024 |
The Guwahati branch is a product launch with clear financial inclusion intent. It is also a statement of geography: Slice chose Northeast India, not a metro, for its most ambitious banking experiment.
About Slice Small Finance Bank
Slice Small Finance Bank is a Bengaluru-headquartered SFB (Small Finance Bank, a bank licensed by the RBI to serve smaller borrowers and underserved communities) with its registered office in Guwahati, Assam. Founded in 2016 by Rajan Bajaj, an IIT Kharagpur graduate and former Flipkart employee, the bank was formed after fintech company Slice merged with North East Small Finance Bank (NESFB) in October 2024. The bank has raised over $250 Mn (Rs 2,075 Cr) from Tiger Global, Insight Partners, and Advent International. It serves 20 Mn+ registered users and employs 3,000+ people. The RBI formally approved Rajan Bajaj as MD and CEO in February 2026.
What Does India’s First AI Phygital Branch Offer?
The Asam Geta branch merges a physical walk-in counter with three AI-powered services. First, AI-enabled self-service kiosks let customers complete transactions without a teller. Second, cash deposits and withdrawals happen on paperless machines. Third, digital onboarding allows new customers to open accounts inside the branch without any physical forms.
The standout feature is UPI (Unified Payments Interface) credit. Customers can access working capital loans directly through the UPI interface, without filing a separate loan application. This is new. No Indian bank has offered credit embedded directly into the UPI experience from inside a branch before.
“This would help small store owners, woman entrepreneurs get access to working capital for their business ventures on their phones in minutes.”
Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Minister, Assam.
CM Sarma also described the partnership with Slice as “the right kind of collaboration that Assam needs and deserves,” adding that the launch reflects the government’s push to make Assam a destination for technology-driven investment.
How Does Slice Compare to Other Small Finance Banks?
| Bank | AI Phygital Branch | UPI-Embedded Credit | Registered Users |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slice Small Finance Bank | Yes (India’s first) | Yes | 20 Mn+ |
| AU Small Finance Bank | No | No | Approx. 10 Mn (estimated) |
| Equitas Small Finance Bank | No | No | Approx. 5 Mn (estimated) |
No other SFB in India has an AI phygital branch model as of May 2026. Slice posted its first-ever profit of Rs 27.97 Cr in H1 FY26, and its deposits stood at Rs 4,349 Cr across nine months of FY26. The Guwahati branch is its most public product bet since the NESFB merger closed in October 2024.
What’s Next
The Asam Geta launch is almost certainly the first in a series. Slice’s roots in the Northeast, through the NESFB legacy network, give it a natural expansion path. The bank is also reportedly exploring a fundraise of $250-300 Mn to support this kind of physical-digital rollout at scale. Watch for new Asam Geta locations to be announced by Q3 FY27. Will other SFBs build a competing AI phygital format before then?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Asam Geta and where is it located?
Asam Geta is India’s first AI phygital banking branch, launched by Slice Small Finance Bank at GS Road, Guwahati on May 16, 2026. The name is Assamese and translates roughly to “Our Assam.” The branch combines AI-enabled kiosks, paperless banking, and direct UPI-based credit access in a single walk-in facility.
What is Slice Small Finance Bank?
Slice Small Finance Bank is a Bengaluru-based bank formed after fintech company Slice merged with North East Small Finance Bank in October 2024. Founded in 2016 by Rajan Bajaj, the bank has raised over $250 Mn (Rs 2,075 Cr) from Tiger Global, Insight Partners, and Advent International. It serves 20 Mn+ registered users across India.
What is UPI credit at the Asam Geta branch and who benefits?
UPI credit at Asam Geta lets customers access working capital directly through the UPI (Unified Payments Interface) without filing a separate loan application. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said the feature is designed to help small shop owners and women entrepreneurs receive funds on their phones within minutes, making formal credit more accessible.
