Released on: July 8, 2008, 12:24 am

Press Release Author: ICICI Bank

Industry: Financial

Press Release Summary: ICICI Bank Facilitating access to formal education

Press Release Body:
ICICI Bank has announced a new initiative, \'Read to Lead\', to facilitate access to
formal elementary education for 100,000 disadvantaged children. This new project
aims to bridge gaps in the access to formal schooling for these children. This
initiative will be in partnership with voluntary organisations (CSOs/NGOs)
identified by ICICI Bank and ICICI Foundation. The plan is to provide financial
support to these organisations so that they may be able to educate 100,000 children
in the year 2008-2009.

The initiative is geared towards assisting schools in the process of imparting
education, enrolment or re-enrolment of children into schools. It will support
partner CSOs / NGOs to design and implement programs to mobilize communities,
strengthen schools and to enable children to enter formal education.

The identified CSOs / NGOs in the first phase are MV Foundation, Kalinga Institute
of Social Sciences and Project Givelife - Shriram Social Welfare Trust.

Mr. V. Vaidyanathan, Executive Director, ICICI Bank Ltd., said, "India's growth will
continue to throw up opportunities across all sectors and income segments. However
without education, the opportunity to participate in this growth could just pass by
the millions of disadvantaged, less skilled countrymen. There is an urgent and
immediate need to bring children, who cannot access formal learning due their
circumstances and background into mainstream education system. We believe that with
this initiative, ICICI Bank would be able to make a significant difference in the
lives of 100,000 children, their families and their generations to come. We are also
sure that these children would become better citizens tomorrow, and be catalysts in
making this great nation even better."

\'Read to Lead\' aims to make the under privileged children of our country self
reliant and self dependent. It is a movement to strengthen the future of our nation.
For education today means a better life tomorrow....

For more details and FAQ\'s, please visit www.icicibank.com


About ICICI Bank:

ICICI Bank (NYSE:IBN) is India\'s second largest bank with over 50 years presence in
financial services and with assets of over USD 67 billion as on December 31, 2006.
The Bank offers a wide range of banking products and financial services to corporate
and retail customers through a variety of delivery channels and through its
specialized subsidiaries in the areas of investment banking, life and non-life
insurance, private equity and asset management. ICICI Bank is a leading player in
the retail banking market and services its large customer base through a network of
over 780 branches and extension counters, 3300 ATMs, call centers and internet
banking (www.icicibank.com) to ensure that customers have access to its services at
all times.

Web Site: http://www.icicibank.com

Contact Details: ICICI Bank: Charudatta Deshpande
Head - Corporate Communications,
Tel: 022-26538208
Fax: 022 -26531116
E-mail: charudatta.deshpande@icicibank.com