NEW DELHI: HDFC Bank has taken its festive offers to the most remote parts of the country by launching the semi-urban and rural phase of ‘Festive Treats’, its annual financial services dhamaka through the Government of India’s Common Service Centres (CSC) network.

Through the network of 1.2 lakh village level entrepreneurs (VLEs) enrolled with CSC, customers in these locations can avail of offers specifically created for them. Customers will get special deals on all banking products from loans to bank accounts. This includes home loans, 2-wheeler loans, car loans, tractor loans, gold loans or business growth loans.

This is the 2nd phase of HDFC Bank’s Festive Treats 2.0 campaign. It was launched digitally across the country on September 30. The rural phase of the campaign was launched digitally by Country Head, Government and Institutional Business, E-Commerce and Start-ups, HDFC Bank Smita Bhagat together with CEO CSC SPV Dr. Dinesh Tyagi.

Speaking on the occasion, Tyagi said, “We want to help people living in rural areas and extend as much benefit of HDFC Bank's Festive Treats to them as those in urban areas. Last year we saw great response to this initiative.” While this year it is an unusual circumstance with the pandemic, I believe our VLEs will be able to safely help those in their areas with all types of finance. They will also be able to celebrate this season with many local offers curated by HDFC Bank, he added.

Speaking to the VLEs about the launch of Festive Treats, Smita Bhagat said, “60% of India lives in semi urban and rural areas and we have been increasingly reaching out to them through our network. Through our partnership with CSC SPV we were able to reach so many people in these markets last year and I congratulate the VLEs for the tremendous success in the previous edition of Festive Treats.” With them as our partners, we have been able to go deeper into the hinterland and take banking products to rural India. We hope to continue growing together, she stressed.

The bank has also tapped over 3,000+ hyperlocal merchants and traders to offer customized deals at the regional level. Customers can avail of flat 5% to 15% off in various categories including apparel, electronics, grocery, home decor and jewellery among others. This is over and above 1,000+ national and international offers that can are also available.

Customers simply have to walk to their nearest Common Service Centre or neighbourhood VLE to avail of special festive offers available across the spectrum of financial solutions. In the current circumstances with the pandemic, all these offers are also available online.

Both retail as well as business customers can avail discounts on processing fees for loans, reduced EMIs and discounts on foreclosure charges on certain loans availed during the period.