New Delhi/Mumbai: To crack down on surging online financial frauds such as ‘digital arrests’, a parliamentary panel has recommended that banks use government-issued IDs to trace, freeze, and blacklist mule accounts siphoning crores of rupees. Experts call it a crucial first step, but banks warn implementation will be difficult. Discussions have begun at ministerial levels to understand how the recommendations by a parliamentary standing committee on home affairs can be implemented to reduce the extent of on ...

Core Insights - Banks and shadow banks are launching various offers to boost credit demand during the festive season, which has been relatively muted this year [2] - Lenders are reducing interest rates on loans for homes, vehicles, and personal use, while waiving processing fees and extending repayment tenures [2] Group 1: Offers and Discounts - Many banks have partnered with retailers and e-commerce companies to provide 'instant' EMI options, cashback deals, and discounts on purchases [3] - ICICI Bank is offering savings of up to ₹50,000 on transactions made through credit or debit cards, internet banking, and cardless EMI [4] - HDFC Bank is providing 'festive treats' with savings of up to ₹50,000 on various loans, including personal, business, and vehicle loans [5] - Axis Bank has launched 'Dil Se Open Celebrations' to offer discounts, cashback, and exclusive deals for upcoming festivals [6] Group 2: Specific Offers by Banks - State Bank of India is providing a 10% instant discount on credit card purchases made during Amazon's 'Great Indian Festival' sale [7] - Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) are focusing on two-wheeler loans following a GST cut, targeting demand in Tier-II and Tier-III cities [8] - Shriram Finance plans to introduce schemes for gold, housing, and vehicle loans to capitalize on festival demand [9] - L&T Finance has announced three festival schemes for two-wheeler customers, including no-cost EMI and prompt payment rebates [10] Group 3: Market Trends - There is a noticeable increase in demand within the auto ecosystem, particularly for two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and passenger vehicles [9] - The overall sentiment indicates a steady underlying demand for credit, with expectations of increased borrowing across key segments due to GST rationalization [8]

Benchmark stock indices Sensex and Nifty closed lower for the third consecutive day on Tuesday in a volatile trade, dragged by selling in IT and blue-chip private banking shares and foreign fund outflows amid concerns over the steep hike in US H-1B visa fees.Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/ReutersAfter oscillating between gains and losses during the day, the 30-share BSE Sensex closed lower by 57.87 points or 0.07 per cent at 82,102.10.During the day, it hit a high of 82,370.38 and a low of 81,776.53, fluctuati ...

Core Insights - HSBC has launched the 'HSBC Rewards | Travel with Points' service, allowing credit cardholders to earn up to 12x reward points for travel bookings [4][18] - The service is accessible through HSBC India's website and mobile app, facilitated by Hopper Technology Solutions [4][18] - The program includes features such as best price guarantee, price drop protection, and free cancellation [12][13][14] HSBC Rewards | Travel with Points Service - The service enables credit cardholders to earn accelerated reward points for booking flights, hotels, and car rentals [4][5] - Different HSBC credit cards offer varying reward points for travel bookings, with the HSBC Prive and Premier cards providing the highest rates [6] - The maximum cap for accelerated reward points is set at 18,000 points per cardholder per calendar month, while base reward points remain uncapped [6] Redemption and Payment Options - Cardholders can redeem reward points for travel services at a 1:1 ratio for HSBC Prive and Premier cardholders [10] - Payment for travel bookings can be made entirely with reward points, partially with points and a credit card, or fully with a credit card to earn additional points [16] Benefits of the Service - The best price guarantee allows cardholders to receive a refund if they find a lower rate within 24 hours of booking [12] - Price drop protection refunds the difference if flight prices drop within 10 days after booking, up to a maximum of ₹1,500 [13] - Free cancellation is available up to 3 hours before the trip, ensuring flexibility for cardholders [14] Conclusion - The introduction of the 'HSBC Rewards | Travel with Points' platform enhances the value proposition for HSBC credit cardholders by offering significant rewards and flexible redemption options [18]

Core Insights - The article discusses the growing trend of co-branded credit card partnerships between airlines and banks in India, highlighting their role in enhancing customer loyalty and engagement [1][8] - It notes that while such partnerships are still relatively rare in India, they have been successful in other markets, generating significant revenue [8] Airline Partnerships - The first co-branded partnership in India was between Jet Airways and Citibank in 2003, with many airlines following suit to offer attractive perks [1][8] - Currently, IndiGo is the only major Indian airline with co-branded card partnerships, specifically with Kotak Mahindra Bank and IDFC First Bank, offering rewards in the form of BluChips [2][8] - Air India is expected to launch a new co-branded partnership for its Maharaja Club loyalty program soon [2][8] International Airline Strategies - International airlines are leveraging co-branded cards to attract Indian customers, with major West Asian carriers and airlines like Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines already established in this space [3][8] - The KrisFlyer SBI Card offers significant benefits, including 10,000 KrisFlyer Miles upon activation and eligibility for the KrisFlyer Gold Tier with substantial spending [3][8] - Emirates has a strong co-branded card program with ICICI Bank, providing tier status based on spending, while other airlines like British Airways and Qatar Airways offer Avios co-branded cards [3][4][8] Hotel Partnerships - Marriott and Taj Hotels are also engaging in co-branded card partnerships, offering various perks to attract customers [5][6][9] - The Marriott co-branded card provides a free night stay and Silver Status, while Taj's card offers access to exclusive lounges and upgrades [6][9] Market Trends - The article emphasizes the increasing interest in travel post-pandemic, with co-branded credit cards playing a significant role in encouraging travel and loyalty [8] - Online travel agents are adopting similar strategies to deepen customer relationships and drive bookings [7][9]

During the week, the BSE benchmark advanced 721.53 points or 0.88 per cent, PTI reported.Among the winners were Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Bharti Airtel, State Bank of India, Infosys and Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC). ICICI Bank, Bajaj Finance and Hindustan Unilever, however, ended in the red.The market valuation of State Bank of India soared Rs 35,953.25 crore to Rs 7,95,910 crore, while Bharti Airtel added Rs 33,214.77 crore taking its mcap to Rs 11,18,952 ...

Market Overview - The combined market valuation of seven of the top-10 most valued firms increased by ₹1,18,328.29 crore last week, driven by an optimistic trend in equities [1] - The BSE benchmark rose by 721.53 points or 0.88 percent during the same period [1] Gainers - State Bank of India saw its market valuation increase by ₹35,953.25 crore, reaching ₹7,95,910 crore [2] - Bharti Airtel's valuation rose by ₹33,214.77 crore, bringing its total to ₹11,18,952.64 crore [2] - Reliance Industries' market capitalisation surged by ₹17,389.23 crore to ₹19,04,898.51 crore [3] - Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) experienced a valuation increase of ₹12,952.75 crore, reaching ₹11,46,879.47 crore [3] - Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) saw its valuation rise by ₹12,460.25 crore to ₹5,65,612.92 crore [3] - Infosys' market capitalisation climbed by ₹6,127.73 crore to ₹6,39,901.03 crore [3] Laggards - ICICI Bank's market valuation decreased by ₹10,707.87 crore, resulting in a total of ₹10,01,654.46 crore [5] - Bajaj Finance's market capitalisation fell by ₹6,346.93 crore to ₹6,17,892.72 crore [5] - Hindustan Unilever's valuation dipped by ₹5,039.87 crore, bringing it down to ₹6,01,225.16 crore [5] Market Ranking - Reliance Industries remains the top firm in market valuation, followed by HDFC Bank, TCS, Bharti Airtel, ICICI Bank, State Bank of India, Infosys, Bajaj Finance, Hindustan Unilever, and LIC [5]

Scheduled Maintenance Activities - SBI has scheduled maintenance on September 21, 2025, from 00:15 hrs to 01:00 hrs IST, during which UPI services will be temporarily unavailable [1][6] - HDFC Bank will conduct maintenance on the same day from 01:00 am to 05:30 am IST, affecting several services including Mutual Funds transactions and RTGS [3][4][6] - Kotak Mahindra Bank will have maintenance from 1:30 am to 2:30 am on September 21, 2025, impacting its services [5][6] UPI Lite Services - SBI has advised customers to use UPI Lite Services during the maintenance period, which will remain operational for low-value transactions [1][6] - UPI Lite allows transactions up to Rs 1,000 per transaction, with a cumulative daily limit of Rs 10,000 and a maximum balance of Rs 5,000 in the UPI Lite account [2][6]

Group 1: Banking Sector - ICICI Bank has a 4% weight in the portfolio and has risen almost 10% year-to-date [1] - HDFC Bank also carries a 4% weight, with its stock price increasing by 8.5% this year [1] - State Bank of India, with a 4% weight, has seen its stock rise over 8% year-to-date [1] Group 2: Insurance and Financial Services - SBI Life Insurance holds the highest weight at 6%, with shares rising 32% since the beginning of the year [2] - REC Limited has a 4% weight but is down over 20% year-to-date [2] - PolicyBazaar (PB Fintech) has a 5% allocation, with share prices falling 15% year-to-date [2] Group 3: Finance Companies - Manappuram Finance has a 4% weight in the portfolio and has increased by 50% this year [3] - Home First Finance also holds a 4% weight, with stock prices rising 22% year-to-date [3]

Group 1 - All public and private banks in India will be open on Saturday, September 20, as it is the third Saturday of the month and there is no bank holiday on this day [1] - According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) calendar, banks are typically closed on the second and fourth Saturdays and all Sundays each month, with exceptions on the first, third, and fifth Saturdays [2] - The next bank holiday is on Sunday, September 21, followed by regional observances on September 22 in Rajasthan for Navratri celebrations [4][5] Group 2 - Remaining bank holidays in September include September 22 for Navratra Sthapna in Jaipur, September 23 for the birthday of Maharaja Hari Singh Ji in Jammu and Srinagar, and September 29 for Maha Saptami in Agartala, Kolkata, and Guwahati [5][6] - Additional bank holidays will occur on September 27 (fourth Saturday) and September 21 and 28 (Sundays) [7] Group 3 - In case of emergencies on bank holidays, ATM services are available 24/7, and online banking services like NEFT, IMPS, and RTGS can be used for transactions [8]