Interview with Zonal Manager, Punjab National Bank
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 16 Mar: Punjab National Bank (PNB), the country’s second largest public sector commercial bank, has been providing its extensive banking services in Dehradun for the past 85 years. The bank began its operations in the city in 1940 following the acquisition of Bhagwan Das Bank. At present, apart from being the lead bank in Dehradun and Haridwar districts, PNB is also providing personal, corporate and international banking services across Uttarakhand through its network of about 300 branches. Its key services include savings accounts, fixed deposits, loans, debit and credit cards and digital banking facilities such as net banking and the PNB One App.
In recent years, PNB has signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Government of Uttarakhand and various state agencies for salary accounts. Under these arrangements, a range of banking facilities are being provided to salary account holders, including insurance cover in the event of accidental death of an account holder.
In this context, Garhwal Post spoke to the Zonal Manager of Punjab National Bank, Anupam, who has taken over recently. The conversation was largely focussed on banking and financial services, employee salary account schemes and insurance benefits offered by PNB. Some excerpts:
We noticed that you have handed over a cheque of Rs 50 lakhs to the family of a salary account holder. Could you kindly explain in what context this cheque has been handed over?
Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Punjab National Bank and the UPNL Department, accident insurance cover is provided to employees of the department who maintain their salary accounts with the bank. Late Shamsher Singh, an employee of the UPNL Department and a salary account holder of PNB, unfortunately died in an accident. Under the provisions of the scheme, the bank has provided accident insurance cover of Rs 50 lakhs to his nominee.
Apart from this particular claim, have any other claims been settled under the MoU with the UPNL Department during the current financial year?
During the financial year 2025–26, the bank has settled a total of seven such claims where the account holders died in accidents. In each of these claim cases, an amount of Rs 50 lakhs has been provided to the nominee of the deceased account holder.
Could you elaborate on whether PNB has signed similar MoUs with other organisations as well?
Apart from the UPNL Department, Punjab National Bank has also signed an MoU with the Government of Uttarakhand for permanent employees of the state. Under this arrangement, all permanent employees of the state government whose salary accounts are maintained with PNB are being provided several special facilities through their salary accounts. These include accident insurance cover, air accident insurance cover, permanent disability insurance, temporary disability insurance, accident insurance cover for family members, zero balance accounts for family members and several other facilities.
It is particularly because of these facilities that at present PNB has the highest number of salary accounts of permanent employees of the Government of Uttarakhand.
Are similar special facilities being provided to employees of any other departments under salary accounts?
Under the Rakshak Salary Account scheme of PNB, personnel of the Uttarakhand Police and the Army whose salary accounts are also maintained with the bank, including Agniveers, are being provided several benefits. These include personal accident insurance cover of Rs 1 crore, air accident insurance cover, coverage for educational expenses of the children of the account holder in case of accidental death, financial assistance of up to Rs 10 lakhs for the marriage of a daughter and several other facilities.
At present, the largest number of salary accounts of the Police Department in the state are maintained with PNB. During the current financial year, the bank has settled eight claim cases under which an amount of Rs 1 crore each has been paid to the nominees.
Through Garhwal Post, I would also like to inform your readers that PNB has settled insurance claims in 100 per cent of the cases in the state and this is the highest among all banks operating in Uttarakhand.
Are salary account holders also provided insurance cover in case of natural death?
Yes, Punjab National Bank is presently providing insurance cover for natural death up to Rs 8 lakh under its salary account schemes.
Since you have mentioned that various facilities are being provided under the salary account scheme of the bank, are government employees also given any concession on loans under this arrangement?
Under the salary account scheme of Punjab National Bank, a 100 per cent waiver is being provided on processing charges and documentation charges for housing loans and vehicle loans. In addition to this, salary account holders are also being given concessional rates of interest on housing loans, vehicle loans and education loans.
It is generally stated that debit cards or credit cards also carry accident insurance facilities. Are such facilities also being provided on the cards issued to PNB salary account holders?
Punjab National Bank provides personal accident insurance cover of up to Rs 10 lakh on the debit cards issued to salary account holders. In addition, the bank’s LUXURA Metal Credit Card carries accident insurance cover of up to Rs 50 lakh.
Recently, Financial Services Department has directed all the banks to introduce schemes offering certain facilities for salary accounts of Central Government employees. What does PNB offer to account holders in this regard?
Punjab National Bank has introduced a special salary account scheme for permanent employees working in Central Government departments. Under this scheme, employees are being provided personal accident insurance cover up to Rs 1.5 crores, air accident insurance cover up to Rs 3 crores, natural death cover up to Rs 12 lakhs, permanent disability insurance up to Rs 1.5 crores and temporary disability insurance up to Rs 75 lakhs.
In addition, the scheme also provides insurance cover of up to Rs 10 lakhs for plastic surgery in case of burns due to fire, hospital cash facility, 100 per cent waiver on locker rent for the first year and several other benefits.
