Pitch BFSI Summit: How LIC Housing Finance is charting a digital future for homebuyers

The Pitch BFSI Summit 2025 witnessed a thought-provoking keynote fireside chat titled “Bricks, Bytes & Bharat: Transforming Dreams into Digital Realities” between Nawal Ahuja, Co-Founder, exchange4media, and Tribhuwan Adhikari, MD & CEO of LIC Housing Finance. The conversation explored the evolving aspirations of Indian homebuyers, the impact of digitization on housing finance, and the regulatory and competitive forces shaping the sector.

Setting the stage, Ahuja highlighted the scale of LIC Housing Finance’s operations. With assets under management nearing ₹3 lakh crore as of September 2024, revenues touching ₹28,000 crore, and disbursements of ₹64,000 crore, the company remains the country’s largest housing finance institution. Against this backdrop, Adhikari emphasized that housing remains both a dream and a necessity for millions of Indians, particularly the middle class and economically weaker sections. “Owning a home is still a dream for the majority of Indians. Our role is to make that dream achievable, through products suited to different income groups and aspirations,” he said.

Adhikari underlined that demand for housing finance is unlikely to witness a downturn in India. While tier-one and tier-two cities continue to grow, he sees the biggest potential emerging from tier-three and tier-four towns. However, these markets come with unique hurdles, including unclear land titles, lack of credible builders, fragmented property holdings, and customers with largely undocumented incomes. “In these towns, the challenge is higher, but so is the opportunity. With the right processes and technology, we can bring more people into the formal housing ecosystem,” he noted.

Competition in the housing finance space has intensified as banks and NBFCs push secured lending products. Yet, he positioned LIC Housing Finance’s single-product focus as its biggest strength. “We don’t dilute our attention. Housing finance is our only product, and our 36 years of legacy gives us the expertise to serve customers seamlessly,” he said.

The discussion also spotlighted the growing role of partnerships. Adhikari stressed that future growth will depend on collaboration with fintechs, proptechs, and government platforms. Fintechs bring cost-efficient technological solutions, enabling digital onboarding and seamless customer journeys. Proptechs help customers identify credible builders and projects, while simultaneously integrating housing loan offerings into their platforms. Government initiatives, especially in affordable housing, remain critical, with PMAY 2.0 offering subsidies and incentives to economically weaker and lower-middle-income groups. “Collaboration is the key. No single player can do this alone,” Adhikari emphasized.

He stated that LIC Housing Finance uses a strong internet presence in addition to its extensive physical reach, which includes over 300 branch offices, 43 cluster offices, and 10,000 on-site employees, for marketing and customer acquisition. Its app, HOMY, provides an end-to-end digital experience. “We aim to meet the customer where they are, whether it’s through our branches or their smartphones. Convenience and trust are our pillars,” he added.

Artificial intelligence and data analytics are central to the company’s operations. From lead generation to credit risk assessment, AI is integrated across workflows. “AI doesn’t replace our people; it empowers them. It helps us assess risk faster, identify potential defaults, and make the onboarding process almost effortless,” he said.

Regulation, another key theme, was described as a necessary guardrail. While some see oversight as restrictive, he argued it ensures customer protection and ethical practices. “Regulators set the boundaries, but they also give us the confidence to innovate responsibly,” Adhikari said.

He pointed out that digital credit accessibility would be the biggest driver of housing finance growth in the coming years. Even while urbanization and growing incomes are still significant, he maintained that digital platforms that offer rapid, easy, and inexpensive access to loans would be revolutionary, particularly in smaller communities. “The democratization of credit is going to redefine homeownership in India. Technology is the great equalizer,” he said.

The fireside chat closed on an optimistic note, with Adhikari affirming that LIC Housing Finance remains committed to enabling the dream of homeownership across Bharat. By blending its legacy strengths with digital adoption, strategic collaborations, and regulatory compliance, the company aims to stay ahead in a sector that is both aspirational and foundational to India’s growth story.