Axis Bank, a prominent private sector lender in India, has reported a 3% decline in its workforce for FY26, reducing its total employee count to approximately 101,000. The bank's Managing Director and CEO Amitabh Chaudhry attributed this reduction to improved productivity stemming from substantial investments in technology over the past few years. Specifically, Axis Bank has consistently allocated between 9% and 10% of its operating expenditure to technology, which has enabled better efficiency and streamlined processes. The workforce reduction was not confined to any particular business segment, indicating a holistic approach to optimizing operations. Despite the layoffs, Axis Bank continued its physical expansion, opening nearly 400 branches across India during the fiscal year. The bank is also leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance process efficiency rather than replace jobs. Looking ahead, Axis Bank anticipates further productivity gains from its technology investments over the next 18 to 24 months. Financially, the bank reported a net profit of ₹7,071 crore for the March quarter, slightly down from ₹7,117 crore in the previous year, and announced a dividend of Re 1 per share for FY26.