HDFC Bank vs Zerodha: Founders, CEOs and History
HDFC Bank was founded in 1994 by Hasmukhbhai Parekh and is led by Sashidhar Jagdishan. Zerodha was founded in 2010 by Nithin Kamath, Nikhil Kamath and is led by Nithin Kamath.
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.
Zerodha
Nithin Kamath
Nithin Kamath co-founded Zerodha in 2010 and has been its CEO since. He introduced the flat-fee model, made delivery trades free in 2015 and has kept the company self-funded.
Nikhil Kamath
Nikhil Kamath co-founded Zerodha and later co-founded True Beacon and Gruhas. He signed The Giving Pledge in 2023.
CEOs and their tenures
HDFC Bank
- Aditya Puri1994–2020
Managing Director
First managing director of the bank from its founding until 2020.
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
Former Chief Election Commissioner and Financial Services Secretary; RBI approved his three-year term as part-time chairman effective July 15, 2026.
Source
Zerodha
- Nithin Kamath2010–present
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Has led Zerodha since founding and publishes regular updates on its finances and risks.
Source - Nikhil Kamath2010–present
Co-Founder
Co-founded Zerodha and is also a co-founder of True Beacon and Gruhas.
Source - Kailash Nadh2013–present
Chief Technology Officer
Leads the in-house technology team behind Kite and Zerodha's other platforms.
Source
Timeline: HDFC Bank and Zerodha side by side
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.
2010Zerodha
Zerodha founded in Bengaluru
Nithin and Nikhil Kamath started operations on 15 August 2010.
2015Zerodha
Free equity delivery and Kite
Zerodha dropped brokerage on delivery trades and moved clients to its own Kite platform.
2020HDFC Bank
Sashidhar Jagdishan Becomes CEO
Sashidhar Jagdishan succeeds Aditya Puri as managing director and CEO in October 2020.
2023HDFC Bank
HDFC Ltd Merger Completed
HDFC Bank completes the merger with parent HDFC Ltd, creating a much larger banking balance sheet.
2023Zerodha
Zerodha Fund House launches its first funds
After announcing a mutual fund joint venture with smallcase in April 2023, Zerodha Fund House opened its first two passive index funds, with the offer period running to November 3, 2023.
2024Zerodha
Margin trading facility launched
Zerodha began offering margin trading funding in December 2024.
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.
2026Zerodha
FY26 profit of ~$497 million (₹4,283 crore)
Profit rose about 1.2% while revenue stayed roughly flat.
2026Zerodha
Merchant banking registration
Zerodha Corporate Advisors received a Category-I merchant banking registration from SEBI.
Acquisitions
HDFC Bank
- HDFC Ltd. (Reverse Merger)2023Undisclosed
- Centurion Bank of Punjab2008Undisclosed
Zerodha
No verified acquisitions are listed.
Questions about HDFC Bank vs Zerodha
Who is the CEO of HDFC Bank Limited and Zerodha?
HDFC Bank Limited is led by Sashidhar Jagdishan and Zerodha is led by Nithin Kamath. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was HDFC Bank Limited founded vs Zerodha?
HDFC Bank Limited was founded in 1994 — 16 years before Zerodha, which was founded in 2010. HDFC Bank Limited's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Zerodha.
How many employees does HDFC Bank Limited have compared to Zerodha?
HDFC Bank Limited employs approximately 211,178 people, while Zerodha employs approximately 1,100. HDFC Bank Limited has the larger workforce at 211,178 employees, compared to Zerodha's 1,100. 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 Zerodha headquartered?
Both HDFC Bank Limited and Zerodha are headquartered in India, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded HDFC Bank Limited and Zerodha?
HDFC Bank Limited was founded by Hasmukhbhai Parekh. Zerodha was founded by Nithin Kamath, Nikhil Kamath.
Which company has a longer operating history — HDFC Bank Limited or Zerodha?
HDFC Bank Limited has been operating for approximately 32 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Zerodha has been in operation for around 16 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 Zerodha overview