Ageas Federal Life Launches “New Super Cash Supreme Plan” With Critical Shield And Accident Care Riders

* Offers customers flexibility through financial resilience and protection against up to 50 critical illnesses and 200% payout in case of death in the event of airplane or train accidents.

Ageas Federal Life Insurance, a leading private life insurer in India, introduces two unique riders - Critical Shield Rider and Accident Care Rider along with its latest offering, the Ageas Federal Life Insurance Super Cash Supreme Plan. The plan combines immediate liquidity with long-term financial security, making it an excellent choice for individuals seeking a stable income and comprehensive protection for their families.

The Super Cash Supreme Plan is a flexible life insurance solution designed to meet diverse financial goals while ensuring family security. It offers the first-of-its-kind Guaranteed Supreme Advantage Benefits in the first policy year, providing assured returns. Policyholders can choose from options which provide guaranteed returns thereby receiving uninterrupted income benefits. With life cover throughout the policy term, the Super Cash Supreme Plan is an ideal choice for securing one's family’s future while achieving financial goals.

Benefits of Critical Shield Rider:

The Ageas Federal Life Insurance Critical Shield Rider is designed to enhance policyholders’ base life insurance policy with financial protection against critical illnesses.

Offering coverage for up to 50 critical illnesses, it comes in two variants, Critical Protect, covering 30 illnesses, and Critical Protect Plus, covering 50 illnesses.

The rider provides flexibility to choose the sum assured, policy term, and premium payment mode, ensuring it meets diverse needs. It offers a lump sum payout upon diagnosis of a covered critical illness, allowing buyers to manage medical expenses, recovery costs, or other financial needs.

Benefits of Accidental Rider:

The Ageas Federal Life Insurance Accident Care Rider is designed to offer robust financial protection against unexpected accidents.

This rider ensures enhanced security for the policyholder’s family, providing coverage for accidental death, including an exceptional 200% payout of the rider sum assured in the event of airplane or train accidents.

Policyholders can opt for a comprehensive benefit option covering a wider range of illnesses and offering peace of mind and financial stability during challenging times.

Mr. Amitabh Verma, Chief Transformation Officer, Ageas Federal Life Insurance, said, “At Ageas Federal Life Insurance, our goal is to equip our customers with the flexibility and financial resilience needed to navigate today’s dynamic environment. Our new Ageas Federal Life Insurance Super Cash Supreme Plan, which offers a range of benefits designed to ensure our policyholders’ families' security along with the Critical Shield Rider and Accident Care Rider, with enhanced financial protection, helps us realize this goal. Competitively placed, these new offerings, showcase our keen understanding of people’s evolving needs and our ability to cater to them.”

Ageas Federal Life Insurance provides peace of mind, empowering policyholders to focus on their goals with confidence, knowing their financial security is well-covered. To know more about this plan visit our website: https://www.ageasfederal.com/insurance-plans/savings-plans/Super-Cash-Supreme.

EKA Mobility Tie Up With VehicleCare To Strengthen EV Fleet Services Nationwide

EKA Mobility, a leading electric vehicle (EV) and technology company, has tied up with VehicleCare, a premier automotive service and technology platform, to enhance the maintenance and service ecosystem for its electric SCV range. This collaboration targets to transform the service and maintenance experience for EKA’s entire small commercial electric vehicle (e-SCV) fleet of 3 Wheeler & 4 Wheeler.

It reaffirms EKA Mobility’s commitment to delivering safe, effective, and sustainable shared mobility solutions with VehicleCare’s strong network and refined technology to transform fleet management.

The collaboration brings numerous advantages to EKA’s customers. VehicleCare’s more than 1,000 workshops will offer advanced repair and maintenance services for EKA e-LCVs nationwide. With real-time diagnostics, predictive maintenance tools will identify and fix issues before they become problems, reducing downtime. B2B fleet services will offer customized repair and maintenance solutions for fleet hubs, while the integrated tech platform will streamline spare parts distribution to ensure quicker service.

Commenting on the tie up, Mr. Rohit Srivastava, Chief Growth Officer of EKA Mobility,  said, “Our alliance with VehicleCare marks an essential moment in our journey to redefine sustainable mobility. With VehicleCare’s contemporary solutions and extensive service network, we are confident in delivering unparalleled service experiences to our customers while advancing the adoption of electric mobility in India.”

Mr Arvind Verma, Founder of VehicleCare, stated, “Our collaboration with EKA Mobility to provide top-notch service solutions for their fleet. Our shared vision for a sustainable future, paired with our expertise in fleet maintenance, will help us set new standards for the electric vehicle industry and ensure smooth, efficient operations for EKA’s customers.”

This partnership lowers the maintenance costs owing to its shared nature and helps to create a more economical and environmentally friendly electric mobility ecosystem across India & including remote locations and supports the company's expansion objectives.

5 Smart Ways To Maximise Credit Card Rewards In 2025

Credit cards are more than just a convenient payment method—they are a powerful tool for savvy spenders who know how to use them effectively. With the right strategy, you can turn everyday expenses into valuable rewards like cashback, travel perks, and exclusive discounts.

Here are five secrets from SBI Card to becoming a smart spender and maximising credit card rewards in 2025:

Lifestyle-based Spends

The key to maximising rewards lies in picking a credit card that aligns with your spending habits. If you are a globetrotter, then opt for co-branded airline or hotel cards that offer travel miles like the KrisFlyer SBI Card in association with Singapore Airlines. If you are a daily commuter, then look for credit cards with fuel surcharge waivers or cashback on travel expenses like the BPCL SBI Card OCTANE which gives 7.25% value back and accelerated Reward points equivalent to 6.25% + 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions up to ?4000.  If you are a shopaholic, then credit cards with high cashback or points on online purchases will be your best bet.

Category-based Spends

Most credit cards offer higher reward rates for specific categories, such as dining, groceries, or entertainment. Identify where you spend the most and use a credit card that provides maximum points or cashback in those categories. Some credit cards like SimplyCLICK SBI Card offers 10x rewards on online spends with exclusive partners.

Leverage Gift Vouchers

Many premium credit cards offer reward points as welcome gifts when you meet specific spending thresholds within the first few months. For example, Super Premium credit card AURUM offers 40,000 reward points as welcome gifts to the cardholders.

Plan your big purchases, such as home appliances, gadgets, or travel bookings, around the initial period to unlock the full potential of these rewards. Premium credit card SBI Card Elite offers 5,000 reward points, while SBI Card Miles Elite offers Rs 5,000 as travel credits.

Redeem Rewards

Rewards can lose value if not redeemed on time, so it’s crucial to use your points or cashback balance well in time. Use mobile apps or online dashboards provided by your credit card issuer to track rewards easily. In 2025, many credit cards offer dynamic redemption options like paying bills and more, so explore all available avenues to maximise benefits.

Avoid Charges and Fees

While you make the most of credit card rewards and cashbacks, it is equally important to be disciplined and make your payments on time, to avoid related aspects such as late payment charges. Keep an eye on annual fees; ensure that the rewards and benefits outweigh these costs. Many companies waive off the credit card renewal fee, if you meet certain spending requirements.

Smart spending isn’t just about earning rewards—it’s about maintaining financial health while enjoying the perks of a well-thought-out credit card strategy. By selecting the right credit card, leveraging bonuses, optimising spending categories, tracking rewards, and managing fees, you can turn your credit card into a powerful financial ally.

Union Bank of India To Host “The Human Potential Conclave - IGNITE 2025”

Union Bank of India announces the inaugural edition of “Human Potential Conclave - IGNITE 2025”, a prestigious gathering of HR and Training Heads from Banks across India. This two-day conclave will take place at the Union Bank Learning Academy & Knowledge Centre in Bengaluru on 17th and 18th January 2025.

Union Bank of India takes pride in being a pioneer in the industry, as it hosts the first-ever HR conclave of its kind. The conclave aims to bring together eminent leaders from the Banking and Financial sectors to discuss emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities in human resources. The event will feature keynote addresses, panel discussions, and networking sessions, providing a unique platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration.

Shri Nagaraju Maddirala, Secretary, Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, Government of India, will deliver the keynote address at the conclave.

The HR conclave will be attended by representatives from Public Sector Banks (PSBs), Private Banks and Training institutions further emphasizing the Bank's dedication to fostering growth, development, and collaboration in the Banking sector.

Shoppers Stop Ltd Delivered Strong Q3 Performance, Driven By Premiumization And Other KPI’s

Highlights

Q3 Sales Rs 1311 Cr +9%, EBITDA Rs 262 Cr +20%, PAT Rs 49Cr +37% (GAAP)

Consistent improvement in Operational KPI’s ATV +6%, ASP+4% and IPT +2%

Premium categories contribution continues to improve @ 64%, +9% YoY and +5% Like for Like

First Citizen contributed 83%, + 411bps with Repeat sales 69%, + 267bps with 11.5M Members

Added 16 Stores during the quarter; 1 Department, 9 INTUNE, and 6 Beauty

Value Fashion INTUNE reported Rs.63 Crs Sales has 59 stores across 25 cities

Capex investments of Rs 53 Crs for Q3 and Rs 141 Crs YTD

Shoppers Stop Ltd. a leading department store with premier fashion and beauty brands, has declared its results for the quarter ended 31st December 2024.

Management Comments:

Commenting on the Q3FY25 results, Mr. Kavindra Mishra, MD and CEO of Shoppers Stop Ltd, emphasized the company's resilience in a challenging economic environment. Commenting on the Q3 FY25 financial results, he said, “We ended Q3 with a fairly positive note and the growth trajectory of the business heading in the right direction. We have delivered healthy volume-led revenue growth of 9% and LFL growth of 4%, despite higher inflation and decline in consumer spending. We had taken number of initiatives during the quarter such as “India Weds with Shoppers Stop”, “Gifts of Love”, “Winter Magic Campaign” and “ShowStoppers”, “Singles Day” in Beauty, etc.

These initiatives led to increase in premiumization, and our premium categories contributed 64% of our total revenue. We have improved every KPI’s during the quarter. Our strategic focus is to make Private Brands profitable. I am extremely pleased to say that Private Brands generated healthy margin growth, driven by lower markdown and obsolescence. The Beauty category continues to grow, Sales grew +3%, led by a Fragrance +14%. Our flagship store at Inorbit Malad, Mumbai, has been fully renovated and is now operational, featuring premium product offerings and enhanced customer experiences.

Performance of strategic pillars in Q3FY25:

First Citizen –First Citizen Members contributed 83% to our sales, of which 69% were repeat and the balance 14% from new members. Our Premium Black Card members contributed 17% to our sales with an increase of +28% YoY. This is the highest contribution since we launched Black Card, a few years back. Customer engagement activities continued with 40+ Black Card experiences organized across 26 cities and 160+ experiences across the stores. The “Big Fab Sale” (EOSS) Preview personalized campaigns had 2.5X response Vs regular campaigns.

Beauty – Beauty had Sales of Rs 268 Cr, +3% YoY, led by Fragrance 14%. Our customer engagement activities led the growth with 200K+ makeovers, 259 Master Classes and 9 beauty Soirée events. We opened 6 stores during the quarter including 3 boutique stores of “Armani” and our “First Fragrance Only” Store. We also launched a new Private Brand “JOYOLOGY” across 45+ Shoppers Stop stores and Ecom portals. “JOYOLOGY” is a bold, independent brand redefining beauty with innovation, inclusivity, and joyful self-expression.

Beauty Distribution – Global SS Beauty Brands Limited, our 100% subsidiary continue to outperform with Rs 78 Cr sales during the quarter with +26% YoY growth and Rs 169 Crs YTD, demonstrating improving quarterly trend.

Private Brands – With a focus on driving profitable growth, Private Brands sales was at Rs 186 Cr, contributing 12% to overall sales and 18% in the Apparel segment. Overall margin improved with higher Intake Margin and optimized markdowns.

INTUNE – As at Q3 end, we have launched 59 Intune stores across 25 cities. INTUNE generated sales of Rs 63 Cr in Q3 and year to date Rs 138 Crs. We are planning to open another 26 stores in Q4.  Store openings in Delhi-NCR were delayed due to regulatory restrictions.

Store Expansion – We launched 16 stores in this quarter, including 9 INTUNE, 6 SS Beauty stores, and 1 Department Store. The total capex spend was Rs 53 Crs. We are planning to add 26 INTUNE and 6 Department stores during Q4 this year.

PNB Urges Its Customers To Update KYC By 23.01.2025

In adherence to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines, Punjab National Bank (PNB), nation’s leading public sector bank, urges its customers to update their “Know Your Customer” (KYC) information by 23.01.2025 to ensure smooth functioning of their accounts. This is applicable only for those customers whose accounts were due for KYC updation as of 30.09.2024.

As part of the KYC compliance exercise, PNB customers are requested to provide their updated information like identity proof, address proof, recent photo, PAN/Form 60, income proof, mobile number (if not available) or any other KYC information at any branch. It can also be done through PNB ONE/Internet Banking Services (IBS) or registered e-mail/post to their base branch by 23.01.2025. Failure to update KYC details within the stipulated time may result in restrictions on account operations.

For any assistance, customer can visit their nearest PNB branch or check the official website https://www.pnbindia.in/

CAUTION: Please don’t click/download any link/file received from any unverified sources to update your KYC.

NPST Awarded Frost & Sullivan Technology Company Of The Year Award

* Top Banking and UPI Payments Technology Provider Distinguished as Company of the Year

NPST, a leading provider of digital banking and payment processing solutions, is proud to announce its recognition as the Company of the Year in Payments Technology by Frost & Sullivan. This prestigious award highlights NPST's unwavering commitment to innovation, consistent growth, and its transformative role in shaping India’s banking and payments ecosystem.

The Company of the Year award is presented annually by Frost & Sullivan to an organization that demonstrates outstanding technology excellence and delivers superior customer value through groundbreaking innovations. This recognition underscores NPST's leadership in the digital payments sector.

Frost & Sullivan commended NPST for its pioneering solutions, including the Evok Payments Platform-as-a-Service, the Risk Intelligence Decisioning Platform, and PayJoy, the company’s real-time UPI-based consumer credit product. The company’s strategic use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technologies has further solidified NPST’s position as a PayTech innovator, setting new benchmarks in operational excellence, customer-centricity, and efficiency.

Rahul Agarwal, Associate Director for Growth Advisory at Frost & Sullivan, commented, “NPST exemplifies industry leadership through best practices in growth, innovation, and strategy. With its visionary approach, exceptional execution, and steadfast commitment to innovation, NPST continues to reset industry standards and drive significant growth and transformation.”

Deepak Chand Thakur, CEO and Co-Founder of NPST, expressed his gratitude for the recognition, stating, "Being recognized as a top player in India’s payment technology industry is both a privilege and a responsibility. This award affirms our vision to deliver innovative solutions that empower all players in the financial value chain — banks, payment aggregators, and fintechs — while advancing their digital transformation goals. We are excited to continue expanding our solutions and making a lasting impact on the industry."

About NPST

Founded in 2013, NPST is a PayTech firm listed on the NSE Small and Medium Exchange. A leader in digital banking and payment processing solutions, NPST is dedicated to advancing the digital payments ecosystem by delivering cutting-edge technology solutions to banks, fintechs, and other industry players. The company’s offerings include online and offline transaction processing, banking super apps, fraud prevention, dispute management, and compliance technology.

NPST’s mission is to drive the growth of businesses, individuals, communities, and economies. With over 100 clients and processing more than 60 million transactions daily, NPST continues to make aa significant impact on the digital payments ecosystem. To learn more about NPST and its award-winning solutions,  visit www.npstx.com.