It isn’t rare for companies to send gift packets around to journalists at Diwali time. This year, however, one of them sent a particularly odd note along with the hamper. “This is to inform you,” the note read, “that this packet contains 1 packets of gift [sic]. It contains chocolates and diyas. Its approximate value is Rs 195, and we are sending it as a gift to the customer.” Speculation is rife as to exactly why the bank shared these details. Perhaps it wished to reassure customers that it wasn’t wasting their money on expensive gifts? Or, show journalists, concerned about banks’ low credit growth and high non-performing assets, that they were spending money on gifts even in spite of the stress in the banking sector?
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