CRIF India Launches Chennai Chapter of ‘Credit Goes to HER’ to Advance Women’s Leadership in Credit
CRIF India, part of the global CRIF network, has launched the Chennai chapter of its flagship initiative, Credit Goes to HER, aimed at empowering women professionals across the credit and financial services ecosystem. The launch follows the successful debut of the Kolkata chapter and marks another milestone in the initiative’s expansion to build stronger regional networks among women leaders in the BFSI sector.
The Chennai launch featured a keynote address by Gowri T. Mukherjee, Co-Founder of CreditMantri, and a panel discussion moderated by Gayathri Parthasarathy, Advisor to the Chairman at PwC. The panel included Sharon Buteau, Executive Director of LEAD at Krea University; Srimathy Sridhar, former Executive Director at Indian Overseas Bank and Independent Director; and Kalpana Sankar, Managing Director and CEO of Varashakti Housing Finance.
Launched earlier this year, Credit Goes to HER seeks to create a collaborative platform for women professionals across banking, NBFCs, fintech, analytics, risk management, and policymaking. The initiative is designed to foster networking, mentorship, knowledge sharing, and leadership while supporting greater financial inclusion for women across India.
CRIF India selected Chennai for its next regional chapter because of Tamil Nadu’s diversified financial services landscape, thriving fintech ecosystem, and growing importance as a hub for banking, housing finance, microfinance, and technology-driven lending. The city is home to several leading financial institutions and professionals driving innovation, responsible lending, and financial inclusion.
The decision is also supported by the state’s strong credit growth. As of March 2026, Tamil Nadu’s retail credit portfolio stood at ₹19.1 lakh crore, reflecting a 21.1% year-on-year increase. The women’s credit portfolio reached ₹7.2 lakh crore, growing 25.5% year over year and outpacing the broader retail credit market. The state also recorded robust growth in gold loans, which rose 45.3%, and business lending, up 17.6%, while portfolio quality improved with the Portfolio at Risk (PAR) declining to 2.9%. These trends highlight Tamil Nadu’s emergence as one of India’s fastest-growing credit markets, driven by rising entrepreneurship, stronger credit quality, and increasing participation by women borrowers.
The Chennai chapter will serve as a regional platform for women professionals from banks, NBFCs, housing finance companies, fintech firms, academia, and policy institutions to exchange ideas, build professional networks, access mentorship opportunities, and collaborate on advancing inclusive credit practices.
The launch event also included a data insights session highlighting emerging credit trends and the growing role of women in India’s financial ecosystem.
Through Credit Goes to HER, CRIF India aims to strengthen professional communities, promote women’s leadership, and create greater opportunities for women to influence the future of India’s credit landscape.
