MAM
Fast lanes only as L&T Finance bowls in speedy two wheeler loans
MUMBAI: When Jasprit Bumrah charges in, things happen fast and L&T Finance wants borrowers to feel the same rush. L&T Finance Ltd. (LTF) has rolled out a new television commercial, Just Zoom Two-wheeler Loans, starring its brand ambassador Bumrah, drawing a neat parallel between the pacer’s lethal speed and the company’s promise of swift, friction-free two-wheeler financing. The campaign carries the punchy line Bumrah Ki Speed Par, tying cricketing precision to credit approvals.
Timed for maximum eyeballs, the TVC debuted during the ongoing Asia Cup 2025, where L&T Finance is an associate sponsor across Sony’s broadcast network spanning 13 channels. The film zeroes in on what the lender believes matters most to two-wheeler buyers, instant approvals, higher loan eligibility and EMIs starting at Rs 2,199 per lakh.
Set inside a two-wheeler showroom, the ad plays out like a split-screen thriller. A hesitant customer questions how quickly the loan will come through, while a television in the background shows Bumrah mid-over. As the bowler powers through his run-up, the LTF executive completes the digital loan journey in real time document upload, credit check and approval, all before Bumrah sends the stumps flying. The punchline lands with the wicket: speed, delivered.
Behind the scenes, LTF credits its proprietary AI and machine-learning engine, Project Cyclops, a three-dimensional credit risk assessment system that evaluates customers in real time to enable near-instant underwriting decisions.
L&T Finance, managing director and CEO Sudipta Roy said two-wheeler loans often mark a borrower’s first step into formal credit. “For millions, a two-wheeler is not just mobility but economic independence. By accelerating this first-stage loan, we’re helping aspirations move at the pace modern India expects,” he said.
L&T Finance chief marketing officer Kavita Jagtiani said the film was designed to be as sharp as Bumrah’s yorker. “The idea was simple: minimal wait, maximum impact. We’ve also layered AI-led personalisation across touchpoints to keep the experience fast and relevant,” she added.
The campaign forms part of a wider integrated marketing push across 13 cities, including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Pune. The rollout spans outdoor hoardings, airport branding, metro media, inflight magazines, WhatsApp bot integrations and social platforms. Adding a gamified twist, LTF is also launching an AI-powered Bowl like Bumrah contest, alongside influencer activity and signed merchandise giveaways.
The TVC will air across Sony Sports feeds in English, Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam, as well as Sony PIX, Sony Max and Sony Wah, including HD channels ensuring LTF’s message travels almost as fast as its star bowler.
Brands
YES Bank hands the keys to SBI veteran Vinay Tonse as it bets on a new era
Former SBI managing director appointed as YES Bank’s new MD and CEO
MUMBAI: YES Bank is done rebuilding. Now it wants to grow. The private sector lender has appointed Vinay Muralidhar Tonse as managing director and chief executive officer-designate, with RBI approval secured and a start date of April 6, 2026 confirmed. The three-year term signals the bank’s intent to shift gears from crisis recovery to full-throttle expansion.
Tonse, 60, is no stranger to scale. Most recently managing director at State Bank of India, he oversaw a retail book of roughly $800bn in deposits and advances, one of the largest in the country. Before that, he ran SBI Mutual Fund from August 2020 to December 2022, a stint that saw assets under management surge from Rs 4.32 lakh crore to Rs 7.32 lakh crore across market cycles. Add stints in Singapore and four years leading SBI’s overseas operations in Osaka, and the incoming chief arrives with a genuinely global CV.
His academic grounding is equally solid: a commerce degree from St Joseph’s College of Commerce, Bengaluru, and a master’s in commerce from Bangalore University.
The appointment follows an extensive search and evaluation process by the bank’s Nomination and Remuneration Committee. NRC chairperson Nandita Gurjar said the committee unanimously backed Tonse, citing his leadership track record, governance credentials and ability to drive the bank’s next phase of transformation.
Non-executive chairman Rama Subramaniam Gandhi was unequivocal. “I am certain that Vinay Tonse, with his vast experience as a senior banker, will propel YES Bank to its next phase of growth,” Gandhi said, adding that the bank remains focused on strengthening its retail and corporate banking franchises and expanding its branch network.
Rajeev Kannan, non-executive director and senior executive at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, the bank’s largest shareholder, said Tonse’s experience across retail, corporate banking, global markets and asset management positioned him well to lead the lender. SMBC said it looks forward to working with Tonse and the board as YES Bank pursues its ambition of becoming a top-tier private sector lender anchored in strong governance and sustainable growth.
Tonse succeeds Prashant Kumar, who took the helm in March 2020 when YES Bank was in freefall following a severe financial crisis, and spent six years painstakingly stabilising the institution, rebuilding governance and restoring operational scale. Gandhi was generous: “The bank remains indebted to Prashant Kumar, who is responsible for much of what a strong financial powerhouse YES Bank is today.”
Tonse, for his part, struck a purposeful note. “Together with the board and my colleagues, I remain deeply committed to creating long-term value for all our stakeholders,” he said, pledging to build on Kumar’s foundation guided by his personal motto: Make A Difference.
Beyond the balance sheet, Tonse played cricket at college and club level and represented Karnataka in archery at the national championships — sports he credits with teaching him teamwork, situational leadership, discipline and focus. In quieter moments, he reaches for retro Kannada music, classic Hindi songs, and the crooning of Engelbert Humperdinck, Mukesh and Kishore Kumar.
YES Bank has its steady-handed rebuilder in Kumar to thank for survival. Now it has a scale-obsessed growth banker at the wheel. The next chapter starts April 6.
