The government-owned bank caused embarrassment when it published a photograph intended to celebrate the Hindu Festival of Light, which featured several individuals dressed in Native American attire alongside those in traditional Indian clothing.

The image, which appeared on the bank’s website and social media, was quickly removed. In a public statement, GIB’s CEO, Peter Horton, acknowledged the photograph was “extremely disrespectful to the Hindu community” and failed to meet the bank’s expected standards of “professionalism, respect, and cultural awareness”. He confirmed that an investigation would be launched to understand the cause of the error and that the bank would engage with the Hindu community to strengthen cultural understanding.

The President of Gibraltar’s Hindu Community, Sunil Chandiramani, stated that he did not believe there was any malicious intent behind the mistake. He framed the incident as “a moment where awareness and sensitivity can be strengthened” and an opportunity for the community to share more about its faith and traditions, EuroWeekly News reports.

Public reaction was largely forgiving, with many social media users finding humour in the blunder whilst acknowledging the bank’s swift apology. One commenter noted that many of his Hindu friends found the photo “quite funny”, attributing the mistake to a simple need for better cultural education rather than malice.