Page 19 - Banking Finance March 2025

PRESS RELEASE

ICICI Bank installs units to produce water from atmospheric

moisture

ICICI Bank has announced the adoption of state-of-the-art
technology to produce drinking water from atmospheric moisture
as part of its commitment to enhancing the sustainability of its
operations. The Bank has installed units to produce 8,000 litres
of potable water a day from atmospheric moisture, benefitting
4,200 employees at five offices-- one each in Bengaluru,
Hyderabad and Mumbai-- and two in Chennai.
The units—known as Atmospheric Water Generators (AWGs)—
utilise innovative technology to convert atmospheric moisture into
100% microbe-free, fresh and clean drinking water. The process
of condensation transforms water vapour into droplets, which then undergo multiple filtration processes. Essential minerals
are added at the end of the process. The AWGs can produce water throughout the year as they can operate in a wide
range of ambient temperatures (18°C- 45°C) and relative humidity (25%- 100%).
Mr. Soumendra Mattagajasingh, Group Chief Human Resources Officer, ICICI Bank, said, “At ICICI Bank, we are committed
to conducting our business sustainably and responsibly to reduce impact of our operations on the environment. Our
strategy for environmental and ecological conservations is led by the 4R (reduce, reuse, recycle and responsible disposal)
principle of environmental stewardship. It is estimated that the atmospheric moisture holds several times of the fresh
water in all rivers on the planet. To leverage this renewable resource, we have installed the AWGs at our offices to
convert water vapour into drinking water. This initiative reduces our dependence on packaged water, along with making
good use of the atmospheric moisture.”
ICICI Bank continues to implement initiatives towards sustainability under the aegis of its ESG policy. The Bank has set a
target of becoming carbon neutral in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by fiscal 2032. Over 180 sites of the Bank covering
4.95 million sq. ft. are Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) certified, as at March 31, 2024. The ICICI Service Centre at
Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) in Mumbai was declared ‘Net Zero Waste’ certified in fiscal 2024. Further, the Bank
quadrupled its renewable energy consumption to 75.73 million kWh in fiscal 2024, compared to the previous year. It also
planted 3.7 million trees since fiscal 2022 and created water harvesting potential of 25.8 billion litres annually in schools
and water bodies.

HDFC Bank Launches ‘Anmol Salary Account’ - India’s First Cyber Fraud

Cover Integrated Offering for PSU Employees

HDFC Bank launched India’s first Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) Salary Account with a cyber fraud cover - ‘Anmol Savings
Account’. HDFC Bank has been continuously innovating its Savings Account product. As a part of the ‘Speciale’ suite of
savings account targeted at varied customer segments with diverse needs – senior citizens, working professionals, women,
HDFC Bank offers a cyber fraud cover up to Rs. 1.5 lakhs to senior citizens while the cyber fraud cover varies from Rs.
25,000-50,000 for professionals. Similarly, ‘Speciale Gold Women’ account gives a cancer cover of up to Rs. 5 lakhs for
women.
“We are pleased to introduce the country’s first cyber cover integrated salary account for PSU employees. The feature
is particularly relevant as customers’ banking journeys are increasingly digital.” said Mr. Parag Rao, Country Head –
Payments, Liability Products, Consumer Finance & Marketing, HDFC Bank. “With the launch of the ‘Anmol Savings Account’,
HDFC Bank reinforces its focus on customer centric innovations. This is a novel savings account product bundled with a
wide range of benefits for PSU employees as well as for their family members such as preferential loan rates, increased
salary overdraft limit, health cover.” he added.

BANKING FINANCE | MARCH | 2025 | 17