HDFC Bank vs Visa: Founders, CEOs and History
HDFC Bank was founded in 1994 by Hasmukhbhai Parekh and is led by Sashidhar Jagdishan. Visa was founded in 1958 by Dee Hock and is led by Ryan McInerney.
Company facts
Founders
HDFC Bank
Hasmukhbhai Parekh
Hasmukhbhai Thakordas (H.T.) Parekh founded Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) in 1977, at age 66, after a long career at ICICI.
Visa
Dee Hock
Dee Hock (1929-2022) was the founding CEO of National BankAmericard Inc., the bank-owned company that took over the BankAmericard licensing system from Bank of America in 1970 and adopted the Visa name in 1976.
CEOs and their tenures
HDFC Bank
- Aditya Puri1994–2020
Managing Director
Over 26 years as CEO, he built HDFC into India's largest and most highly valued private sector bank, maintaining pristine asset quality throughout multiple economic cycles.
Source - Sashidhar Jagdishan2020–present
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
Steered the bank through the RBI technology restrictions and the largest merger in Indian banking, while keeping gross NPAs near 1.2%.
Source - Atanu Chakraborty2021–2026
Part-time Chairman
Former Economic Affairs Secretary who chaired the board through the HDFC Ltd merger; resigned on March 18, 2026, citing ethical concerns. Keki Mistry served as interim chairman until Rajiv Kumar's appointment.
Source - Rajiv Kumar2026–present
Part-time Chairman
He managed the complex post-merger integration processes to ensure the massive combined loan book maintained strict asset quality.
Source
Visa
- Alfred F. Kelly Jr.2016–2023
Chief Executive Officer
Serving as CEO from 2016 to 2023, he heavily modernized the massive legacy network, aggressively integrating fintechs and preparing the network to process highly complex cryptocurrency transactions.
Source - Ryan McInerney2023–present
Chief Executive Officer
McInerney joined Visa in 2013 as president after senior roles at JPMorgan Chase and became chief executive on February 1, 2023, succeeding Alfred F. Kelly Jr.
Source
Timeline: HDFC Bank and Visa side by side
1958Visa
BankAmericard launched
Bank of America launched BankAmericard, the direct predecessor to Visa.
1976Visa
Visa name adopted
The network adopted the Visa name to support international acceptance and brand consistency.
1994HDFC Bank
HDFC Bank Incorporated
HDFC Bank is incorporated as one of India's new private-sector banks.
1995HDFC Bank
Banking Operations Begin
The bank begins operations and builds a private-sector banking franchise.
2000HDFC Bank
Times Bank Merger
HDFC Bank merges with Times Bank, one of its early scale-building deals.
2008Visa
Visa IPO
Visa became a public company, changing the economics from a bank association structure to a shareholder-owned company.
2016Visa
Alfred F. Kelly Jr. becomes CEO
Alfred F. Kelly Jr. became CEO of Visa in 2016. Chief executive of Visa from December 2016 to January 2023, when Ryan McInerney succeeded him; Kelly then served as executive chairman.
2020HDFC Bank
Sashidhar Jagdishan Becomes CEO
Sashidhar Jagdishan succeeds Aditya Puri as managing director and CEO in October 2020.
2020Visa
Acquired Plaid (abandoned)
Visa acquired Plaid (abandoned) for $5.3 billion. Visa agreed in January 2020 to buy US data-connectivity fintech Plaid for USD 5.3 billion.
2022Visa
Tink acquisition
Visa completed its purchase of Stockholm-based open banking platform Tink in March 2022.
2023HDFC Bank
HDFC Ltd Merger Completed
HDFC Bank completes the merger with parent HDFC Ltd, creating a much larger banking balance sheet.
2023Visa
Ryan McInerney becomes CEO
Ryan McInerney became Visa's CEO after serving as president.
2025Visa
Revenue reaches $40.0B
Visa reported $40.0 billion in fiscal 2025 net revenue.
2026HDFC Bank
FY2025-26 Net Revenues Reach INR 1,91,218.60 Crore
HDFC Bank reports ~$22.2 billion (INR 1,91,218.60 crore) in net revenues and ~$8.66 billion (INR 74,671.30 crore) in profit after tax.
2026HDFC Bank
Rajiv Kumar Becomes Chairman
After Atanu Chakraborty resigned in March 2026, the RBI approved Rajiv Kumar as part-time chairman effective July 15, 2026.
Acquisitions
HDFC Bank
- HDFC Ltd. (Reverse Merger)2023Undisclosed
- Centurion Bank of Punjab2008Undisclosed
Questions about HDFC Bank vs Visa
Who is the CEO of HDFC Bank Limited and Visa Inc.?
HDFC Bank Limited is led by Sashidhar Jagdishan and Visa Inc. is led by Ryan McInerney. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was HDFC Bank Limited founded vs Visa Inc.?
Visa Inc. was founded in 1958 — 36 years before HDFC Bank Limited, which was founded in 1994. Visa Inc.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger HDFC Bank Limited.
How many employees does HDFC Bank Limited have compared to Visa Inc.?
HDFC Bank Limited employs approximately 211,178 people, while Visa Inc. employs approximately 34,100. HDFC Bank Limited has the larger workforce at 211,178 employees, compared to Visa Inc.'s 34,100. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are HDFC Bank Limited and Visa Inc. headquartered?
HDFC Bank Limited is headquartered in India and Visa Inc. is headquartered in United States. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded HDFC Bank Limited and Visa Inc.?
HDFC Bank Limited was founded by Hasmukhbhai Parekh. Visa Inc. was founded by Dee Hock.
Which company has a longer operating history — HDFC Bank Limited or Visa Inc.?
Visa Inc. has been operating for approximately 68 years, making it the more established of the two companies. HDFC Bank Limited has been in operation for around 32 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the HDFC Bank vs Visa overview