Desmond Baptista has joined Saraswat Bank as Regional Business Manager – Home Loans at the grade of Deputy Vice President, marking another important milestone in his extensive journey within the housing finance and mortgage industry. Based in Mumbai, he will be responsible for driving growth in the home loans business, strengthening customer and channel relationships, and expanding the bank’s market presence across the region.
With over 15 years of experience across housing finance, mortgage sales, and retail banking, Desmond brings strong expertise in business development, sales strategy, team leadership, and credit process management. Throughout his career, he has consistently demonstrated the ability to build high-performing teams, deliver strong business growth, and drive operational excellence across competitive financial markets.
Prior to joining Saraswat Bank, he served as Regional Sales Manager at Bajaj Housing Finance Limited, where he led housing finance sales operations across the Mumbai region. During his tenure, he managed a 48-member team across multiple branches and consistently exceeded business targets, delivering strong monthly disbursement growth while maintaining regulatory and risk compliance standards. He also played a key role in optimizing sales strategies, strengthening channel partner relationships, and streamlining operational workflows.
Earlier in his career, Desmond held leadership roles at HDFC Bank, SBI Card, IndusInd Bank, HSBC, and Citi. Across these organizations, he gained extensive exposure to retail banking, mortgage sales, account management, and sales leadership, building a strong foundation in customer acquisition and financial services growth.
With his deep industry understanding, customer-focused approach, and proven leadership capabilities, Desmond is well-positioned to contribute significantly to Saraswat Bank’s home loans business and support more families in achieving their dream of home ownership.