From the desk of Strategic Resources For any query, discussion or feedback, please contact Pavan Chandra, Head of Strategic Resources at pchandra@zenithoptimediaindia.com, +91-124-4195100. Office Address : 10th Floor, Vatika Tower, Block-B, Sector 54 Gurgaon -122002, Haryana, India.

Volume: IX

December, 2007

 

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Financial Services

Share Prices

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales and Market Share

Banks

 

 

Source: Indian Banks’ Association

 

 

 

 

Mutual Funds

 

 

 

Source: Association of Mutual Funds of India

 

 

 

Trends, Marketing Initiatives and Others

Banks

 

 

 

28. SBI Salute To Indian Womanhood – December 12

SBI to launch an exclusive branch for women

As an acknowledgement to the rise of women, the State Bank of India will offer 'gen next' banking solutions, an exclusive branch for women inside a mall. Tentatively named Her Lucknow Banking Studio, the branch will be opened at the Wave multiplex in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow. Along with getting their financial needs attended to, this tailor-made exclusive branch for women will allow them to enjoy Internet browsing, a change room, a reading corner, an in-house café, piped music, a huge TV screen, home service, etc.

 

Source: The Financial Express

 

 

 

29. ING Vysya Bank Signs Anil Kumble As Brand Associate – December 07

Anil Kumble is the brand ambassador for ING Vysya Bank

Anil Kumble, India’s Test captain of the Indian cricket team, has been signed on as the brand ambassador by ING Vysya Bank. ING Vysya Bank is involved in retail, private and wholesale banking.

  

Source: Exchange4media

 

 

 

30. HDFC Bank Plans To Offer Mobile Wallets – December 05

HDFC Bank plans to foray into mobile wallets

In a move to do away with credit and debit cards, private sector bank HDFC Bank is contemplating an entry into the mobile wallets segments. Mobile wallets are expected to allow customers to use their mobile phones for purchases by clicking through the options on their mobile phone, instead of having to swipe their cards for undertaking transactions.

 

Source: DNA

 

 

 

Insurance

 

 

 

31. "Getting Through" – December 01-15

Aviva India devises innovative marketing technique to reach its target segment

Aviva India has devised an innovative marketing technique to reach its core target segment – parents – by targeting their children. The company, in association with Disney’s popular show Power Rangers, has launched a contest wherein a TV commercial with a simple question related to Power Rangers will be aired on two kids’ channels, Disney and Jetix. Kids need to answer this question by asking their parents to send an SMS on their behalf. Alternatively, parents can also fill up a contest form, which is available at all Centurion Bank of Punjab branches (Aviva’s on-ground partner bank) and online on www.avivaindia.com. The first 20,000 correct entries will receive Power Ranger Stamped Certificates and win assured prizes such as a Mystic Watch or a Power Ranger Walkie Talkie. The mobile-phone details collected through the incoming SMSes become leads for Aviva.

 

Source: The Brand Reporter

 

 

 

32. Insurers Plan Products For Rural Areas – December 13

Insurance companies identify opportunity in rural areas

Insurance companies such as ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company and SBI Life have identified rural areas as the next big opportunity. Though IRDA norms have made it mandatory that insurers underwrite a percentage of the total policies from rural areas, this sector is being considered as an attractive business destination. While ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company launched operations in rural areas in February 2007, SBI Life announced its entry into micro-insurance with the launch of Grameen Shakti in Bhubaneshwar, Orissa.

 

Source: Business Standard

 

 

 

33. US-based Prudential Eyes Micro-Finance Business In India – December 02

Prudential Financial considers entry into micro-finance in India

US-based insurance company Prudential Financial seeks to enter the micro-finance business in India and is searching for potential partners. The company has already announced its entry into the insurance sector by announcing a joint venture – DLF Pramerica Life Insurance – with the country's real estate firm DLF Company in February 2007. On 4 December, 2007, Prudential Financial Inc also, announced an asset management joint venture, DLF Pramerica Asset Managers Pvt. Ltd., with DLF Ltd.

 

Source: The Economic Times, DNA

 

 

 

Others

 

 

 

34. Credit Card Complaints On The Rise – November 27

One-fifth banking services-related complaints come from credit card customers

One-fifth of the banking services-related complaints come from credit card customers; of these, the maximum number of complaints pertain to public sector banks (PSBs), states Reserve Bank of India deputy governor Usha Thorat. In the case of PSBs, the number of complaints per 1,000 customers is 0.79, while for foreign banks and private banks the figures are 0.26 and 0.20, respectively. Currently, there are over 40 million credit card customers in the country and the industry has been growing at a compounded annual growth rate of 35-40% for the past few years.

 

Source: The Economic Times

 

 

 

35. Times Financial, RCom Arm Tie Up For Mobile Money Transfer – December 06

TFS and RCII to offer mobile-based money transfers

Times Financial Services (TFS) has entered into a strategic tie-up with Reliance Communications International (RCII), the US subsidiary of Reliance Communications (RCOM), to offer mobile-based money transfers. The partnership will enable NRIs in the US to send money to India while being on the move through their registered mobile and fixed phones. It will also allow them to register over an interactive voice-response menu and initiate bank-to-bank account transfers.

 

Source: The Economic Times

 

 

 

Product Launches

Banks

 

 

 

36. ICICI Bank Launch Green Channel Process For PSL In Andhra – December 13

ICICI Bank has launched project Green Channel Process for providing exclusive services to its 'Privilege Service Clients' (PSL) in Andhra Pradesh.

 

 

 

37. PNB Introduces Its First Biometric ATM – November 26

On 26 November, 2007, Punjab National Bank (PNB) installed its first biometric ATM at a village in Gautam Budh Nagar (UP). Illiterate customers can use the finger print facility in the biometric ATM to withdraw money, make balance enquiry and obtain a mini statement through voice guidance.

 

 

Insurance

 

 

38. SBI Life Ltd Enters Micro Insurance – December 13

On 12 December, 2007, SBI Life forayed into micro-insurance sector with the launch of 'Grameen Shakti' for self help groups (SHGs) in Orissa.

 

 

 

Mutual Funds

 

 

 

39. Fidelity Is Now Everywhere With Fidelity Anywhere – December 04

On 4 December, 2007, Fidelity Fund Management launched Fidelity Anywhere, a mobile-friendly website, whereby anyone with a handheld device or a mobile phone with an Internet browser and GPRS connectivity can access Fidelity Anywhere (www.fidelityanywhere.co.in). It provides the latest NAVs for Fidelity’s funds in India and allows its customers to submit requests for application forms and investor guides, which are then delivered via e-mail.

 

 

 

40. Franklin Templeton Launch Franklin Asian Equity Fund – November 20

Franklin Templeton Investments (India) has launched a new open-end equity fund called Franklin Asian Equity Fund (FAEF), which would invest in companies in the Asian region (except Japan) and Asia-related companies across market capitalization ranges. The fund’s offer period started from 19 November, 2007, and ended on 18 December, 2007.

 

 

 

Advertising Campaigns

 

Insurance

 

 

 

41. Time To Wake Up To The Call Of Health – November 26

ICICI Prudential Life Insurance launches new TVC for its health plans
ICICI Prudential Life Insurance has launched a new TVC for its health plans, based on its corporate theme ‘Jeetey Raho’. The company aims to convince people to not remain in denial about their health.

The ad, created by ad agency Lowe, shows a couple watching a soap opera in which a woman is pleading with her husband's boss for a loan for a health-related emergency in her family.

 

Watching this, the wife remarks that had the television character had health insurance, she would not have had to face such problems.

 

As the husband looks at her thoughtfully, the wife teases him that it’s only a TV show. The husband then presents his wife with ICICI Prudential’s Health Insurance Policy (with a health-care guarantee of 20 years) and the wife becomes misty eyed.

 

When her husband asks her the reason for her emotional display, she blames it on the onions that she has been chopping.

  

Just then, the woman sneezes and her husband blesses her, saying “Jeetey Raho (May you live long)”. In turn, she blesses him back.

 

This target audience for this TVC is males in the 35-45 age group who do not have health insurance.
 

Source: Agencyfaqs

 

 

 

Others

 

 

42. ASK Group’s New TVC Stresses On ‘Asking The Right Person’ – November 26

ASK Group unveils new TVC for its financial planning and wealth advisory business

ASK Group, which produces software for use in business settings, unveiled a new TVC for its financial planning and wealth advisory business – ASK Wealth Advisors.  The objective of this TVC is to establish ASK Wealth Advisors as a brand in the financial planning space that understands customers’ needs.

 

Created by adverting agency Purple Spinach, the TVC shows a man visiting a salon.

 

As soon as he enters the saloon and sits down on a chair, the barber begins offering him all kinds of hair care products, from styling gels to lotions.

 

Each time the man declines a product, the barber whisks out a new one. Finally, the frustrated customer pulls off his wig, revealing that he is bald.

 

The barber then understands that the man has come only for a shave. Targeted at high net-worth individuals, the campaign was backed by outdoor advertising in the metros.

 

Source: Exchange4media