A novel PR ploy

Top banks face some huge PR challenges at the moment, and some, notably Goldman Sachs (GS), are aiming to blunt a public outcry by emphasizing charitable giving and good works.

Deutsche Bank (DB) has come up with a novel idea. It has announced that it will donate a day's worth of agency trading commission to the relief effort in Haiti. In addition, Deutsche Bank is offering its staff in the United States an "expanded and expedited matching gifts program in recognition of the urgency and severity of the disaster." These sorts of programs are of course aimed in part at creating good PR vibes. It's unclear how much money this will generate. It may be rather paltry, but it certainly can't hurt the relief effort.

Goldman Sachs, Citigroup (C) and JPMorgan (JPM) are among the banks making donations. You have to wonder if Goldman Sachs is pondering more aggressive moves along these lines. Arguably, it has the greatest need to demonstrate its humanity. 

For more:
- here's the release

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