Finance

HDFC Bank Releases First Standalone CSR Report, Spends ₹1,068 Crore in FY25


Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

HDFC Bank, India’s largest private sector bank, has released its first-ever standalone annual Corporate Social Responsibility Report, marking a significant milestone in its decade-long journey of social impact through its umbrella initiative, Parivartan. The report highlights the Bank’s sustained commitment to inclusive and sustainable development across the country.

In FY 2024–25, HDFC Bank spent ₹1,068.03 crore on CSR initiatives, reflecting an increase of nearly ₹123 crore over the previous year. As of March 31, 2025, the Bank’s cumulative CSR investment stands at ₹6,176 crore. Over the past ten years, Parivartan has touched 10.56 crore lives across 28 states and eight Union Territories, with projects implemented in 102 of the 112 Aspirational Districts identified by the Government of India. The Bank has also extended its rural development initiatives to 298 border villages.

The CSR Report outlines HDFC Bank’s work across six core focus areas that address critical social and environmental needs. Its flagship Holistic Rural Development Programme follows an integrated, cluster-based approach to improve infrastructure, education, natural resource management, health and sanitation, positively impacting over 14.92 lakh households. In education, the Bank has strengthened access and quality through scholarships, digital learning and infrastructure, disbursing over 29,000 scholarships, setting up more than 2,600 SMART schools and establishing 930 community libraries.

Through skill training and livelihood enhancement programmes, HDFC Bank has enabled 7.2 lakh individuals, including youth and women, to secure sustainable livelihoods. Its healthcare and hygiene initiatives have expanded access to preventive care, maternal and child health services and hygiene awareness, benefiting over three lakh individuals through mobile clinics, cancer care support and maternal health initiatives. Financial literacy and inclusion efforts have empowered individuals with banking awareness and digital safety, with the Bank’s Vigil Aunty campaign on fraud awareness reaching over 21 lakh followers online.

The newest focus area under Parivartan, natural resource management, promotes sustainability through water conservation, afforestation, solar energy solutions and biodiversity conservation. To date, the Bank has created 14,520 water conservation structures and installed more than 69,000 solar lights, supporting long-term environmental stewardship.

Aligned with 10 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, HDFC Bank’s CSR initiatives reflect an integrated approach to development that balances economic progress with social equity and environmental responsibility. Commenting on the milestone, Kaizad Bharucha, Deputy Managing Director, HDFC Bank, said that Parivartan represents the Bank’s sustained effort to work alongside communities in unlocking their potential, guided by a philosophy of inclusive, locally relevant and future-focused development.

Social

HDFC Bank Conducts Over 4,000 Cyber Fraud Awareness Workshops Across India


Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

HDFC Bank, India’s leading private sector bank, has strengthened its commitment to digital safety by conducting over 4,000 cyber fraud awareness workshops across the country as part of its ongoing digital banking awareness drive. Since April 2025, these workshops have reached more than 27,000 citizens, equipping them with essential knowledge to safeguard themselves against the growing threat of cyber fraud.

The initiative targets a wide and diverse audience, including school and college students, senior citizens, self-help groups, bank customers, and employees. Through interactive sessions, participants were educated on safe digital banking practices designed to help them recognise and avoid fraudulent activities. The workshops featured real-life examples, stories, and videos that illustrated common tactics used by fraudsters, making the sessions both relatable and impactful. Many of these workshops were conducted in collaboration with Law Enforcement Agencies, further reinforcing their credibility and reach.

Participants were introduced to various fraudster tactics, including how criminals manipulate victims using fear, urgency, greed, or appeals for help. The sessions highlighted prevalent cyber threats such as digital arrest scams, investment frauds, APK frauds, phishing, smishing, vishing, SIM swap scams, remote access frauds, and UPI-related frauds. Practical secure banking tips were also shared, emphasising simple yet effective habits that can significantly reduce risk. The workshops featured ‘Vigil Aunty’ as a relatable awareness ambassador to reinforce these messages.

Attendees were strongly advised never to share sensitive personal or banking information, avoid clicking on suspicious links, and refrain from downloading APK files or attachments received through emails, SMS, or WhatsApp, particularly those impersonating banks, government authorities, or trusted institutions.

Commenting on the initiative, Manish Agrawal, Senior Executive Vice President – Credit Intelligence and Control at HDFC Bank, said that fraudsters are increasingly combining social engineering tactics with technology to exploit customers. He emphasised the importance of awareness in preventing individuals from sharing confidential banking details or engaging with unverified links, urging citizens to always “Pause, Think, and Verify” before taking any action.

HDFC Bank continues to encourage customers to adopt safe digital banking habits and remain vigilant while transacting online. In the event of online fraud, customers are advised to immediately report unauthorised transactions to the bank, block the affected payment mode, and contact the Ministry of Home Affairs’ 1930 cybercrime helpline or file a complaint on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal to prevent further losses.

Finance

HDFC Bank Group Concludes HDFC Tech Innovators 2025, Honours 10 Winning Startups


Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

HDFC Bank Group successfully concluded the fourth edition of HDFC Tech Innovators 2025, marking another milestone in its commitment to strengthening India’s startup ecosystem. The event honoured ten winning startups across six sectors and awarded two special recognitions to emerging women founders. This year’s edition saw remarkable national participation, with over 1,600 startups applying from more than 290 cities across the country, reflecting the rapid growth and expanding reach of India’s innovation landscape.

HDFC Tech Innovators 2025 was organised jointly by HDFC Bank, HDFC Capital and HDFC AMC, with active support from HDFC Life, HDFC Ergo, HDFC Securities and HDB Financial Services. The initiative was conceived as a platform to recognise early-stage startups and enable meaningful collaboration between founders and HDFC Group companies. In previous editions, the programme has helped identify high-potential ventures such as QNu Labs, a pioneer in quantum-safe cybersecurity, in which HDFC Bank subsequently invested. The Group also supports young ventures through Parivartan, its CSR arm, by partnering with leading incubators across India.

Speaking at the event, Ashish Parthasarthy, Group Head of Branch Banking, Payments, Treasury, Liability Products, Marketing, Virtual Channels and Infrastructure at HDFC Bank, highlighted the Group’s ongoing commitment to fostering India’s next generation of corporations. He emphasised that the bank’s StartUp BuildUp programme offers one-of-a-kind solutions, from customised current accounts to health cover, commercial cards and regulatory support for FDI and ODI transactions, designed to empower startups from the very beginning of their journey.

Navneet Munot, MD & CEO of HDFC AMC, noted that innovation continues to reshape every aspect of human progress — spanning finance, healthcare, deep tech, space technology and frontier sciences. He reiterated that HDFC Bank Group sees itself as a long-term partner in India’s innovation journey. At HDFC AMC, the mission remains to channel the country’s entrepreneurial energy into wealth creation for millions of Indians. He described HDFC Tech Innovators as a celebration of the visionaries shaping the future.

Vipul Roongta, CEO of HDFC Capital, underscored how technology and innovation are transforming the built world and redefining every step of the value chain. He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to future-ready business models and emerging technology-led solutions that support India’s transformation in the years ahead.

This year, the initiative broadened its horizons by including Defence and Space Tech as a new sector, recognising the crucial role these domains play in nation-building. Two special awards were also introduced for women entrepreneurs, acknowledging their rising presence and impact within the country’s startup ecosystem.

The event also featured a panel discussion titled “Architects of India’s Startup Ecosystem,” which brought together leading voices from across government, industry and venture capital. Among the speakers were Sanjiv, Joint Secretary at DPIIT; Air Vice Marshal Dhananjay V. Khot (Retd.), Director–Strategy and Planning at IN-SPACe; Shashank Kumar, Founder and Managing Director of Razorpay; Gautam Mago, General Partner at A91 Partners; Vikram Gupta, Founder and Managing Partner of IvyCap Ventures; and Sunali Rohra, Senior Executive Vice President at HDFC Bank. Their perspectives added depth to the conversation on India’s evolving innovation landscape.

With its continued commitment to collaboration, investment and knowledge-sharing, the HDFC Bank Group reinforces its role as a key enabler for startups building India’s future. HDFC Tech Innovators 2025 stands as a testament to this vision, celebrating innovation, encouraging entrepreneurship and empowering the leaders of tomorrow.

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HDFC Bank to Host 17th Annual Nationwide Blood Donation Drive on December 5, 2025


Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

HDFC Bank, one of India’s leading private-sector banks, will host the 17th edition of its nationwide Blood Donation Drive under its flagship CSR initiative, Parivartan. The annual effort is scheduled for December 5, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and will take place across more than 1,100 cities in India. The initiative continues to be one of the Bank’s most impactful community welfare programmes, encouraging large-scale participation from employees, customers, corporates, defence personnel, students and members of local communities.

The drive highlights the Bank’s commitment to supporting the country’s ongoing requirement for safe and timely blood donations. Since its inception in 2007, the Annual Blood Donation Drive has grown from only 88 centres and 4,385 units collected to more than 5,533 camps and 3.38 lakh units collected across 1,408 locations in 2024. It also earned a Guinness World Record in 2013 for conducting the largest single-day, multiple-venue blood donation event.

Mr Kaizad Bharucha, Deputy Managing Director at HDFC Bank, expressed gratitude to all volunteers and partners who have contributed to the drive over the years. He emphasised that the simple act of donating blood can create an immediate and meaningful impact on someone’s life. Mr Bhavesh Zaveri, Executive Director at HDFC Bank, noted that the initiative has grown significantly due to the dedication and teamwork demonstrated by employees and partners, reaffirming the Bank’s commitment to strengthening India’s healthcare ecosystem.

To ensure the highest standards of safety and transparency, HDFC Bank collaborates with reputed blood banks, healthcare institutions, NGOs and government authorities. This year’s edition will continue these partnerships, maintaining strong adherence to medical protocols and ethical practices. With community participation at its core, the 17th Annual Blood Donation Drive seeks to inspire individuals across the country to come together and contribute to a life-saving cause.

Finance

HDFC Bank Unveils Festive Treats 2025 with Over 10,000 Exclusive Offers Nationwide


Written by Intern Queeny George M.H , Team Allycaral

HDFC Bank, India’s leading private sector bank, has launched its highly anticipated Festive Treats 2025 campaign, setting the tone for the country’s bustling festive shopping season. With over 10,000 offers rolled out across a spectrum of banking and financial services including credit cards, personal loans, PayZapp, and EASYEMI, the campaign is designed to deliver value, convenience, and smart spending options to customers across India.

Announcing the campaign, Mr. Parag Rao, Country Head – Payments, Liability Products, Consumer Finance and Marketing, HDFC Bank, said, “As the country begins to wrap itself in festive delights, we bring to our consumers myriad offers that provide tangible value. Festive Treats is our annual property that drives demand and supports consumption patterns of the country by giving our customers opportunities to optimise their savings on festive spends.”

Mr. Ravi Santhanam, Group Head and CMO, Head – Direct to Consumer Products, HDFC Bank, added, “A multi-year franchise, Festive Treats is like a clarion call for the festive season. We bring these curated offers to our customers through our strong physical and digital footprint. By rolling out Festive Treats in phases from Onam through to Diwali with hyperlocal activations, we will ensure that the offers are not only compelling but also deeply relevant to local communities.”

The scale of the campaign is unmatched, with HDFC Bank planning over 37,000 on-ground activations at retail hubs, residential societies, and corporate offices to ensure the offers reach customers where they are. The bank will leverage its vast network of 9,499 branches, 21,251 ATMs, and more than 600,000 merchant and dealer touchpoints across India. The campaign reflects HDFC Bank’s commitment to driving financial accessibility and retail growth during India’s biggest shopping season.

As customers prepare for celebrations, gifts, and home improvements, Festive Treats 2025 arrives as the perfect partner in making those dreams affordable and rewarding.