Overview — Punjab Gramin Bank
पंजाब ग्रामीण बैंक — एक परिचय
Punjab Gramin Bank (पंजाब ग्रामीण बैंक) is a Regional Rural Bank (क्षेत्रीय ग्रामीण बैंक - RRB) serving the rural and semi-urban population of Punjab. Like all RRBs, it is jointly owned by the Central Government of India (भारत सरकार — 50%), its Sponsor Bank (प्रायोजक बैंक — Punjab National Bank — 35%), and the State Government (राज्य सरकार — 15%). It operates under the Regional Rural Banks Act, 1976 (क्षेत्रीय ग्रामीण बैंक अधिनियम, 1976) and is regulated by the RBI (भारतीय रिज़र्व बैंक) and supervised by NABARD (राष्ट्रीय कृषि और ग्रामीण विकास बैंक).
Quick Facts
त्वरित तथ्य
| Detail (विवरण) | Information (जानकारी) |
|---|---|
| Bank Name (बैंक नाम) | Punjab Gramin Bank |
| Established (स्थापित) | 2005 (Phase 1 merger) |
| Sponsor Bank (प्रायोजक बैंक) | Punjab National Bank |
| Head Office (मुख्यालय) | Gurdaspur, Punjab |
| State Served (राज्य) | Punjab |
| Branch Network (शाखा नेटवर्क) | over 400 |
| District Coverage (जिला охват) | 10 districts of Punjab (primarily Majha and Doaba regions) |
| IFSC Prefix (IFSC उपसर्ग) | PUGB0XXXXXX |
| Authorised Capital (अधिकृत पूंजी) | ₹2,000 crore (authorised) |
| Ownership (स्वामित्व) | Central Govt 50% | Punjab National Bank 35% | State Govt 15% |
| Regulator (नियामक) | RBI (Regulation) + NABARD (Supervision) |
| Deposit Insurance (जमा बीमा) | DICGC — ₹5 lakh per depositor |
History and Establishment
इतिहास और स्थापना
Punjab Gramin Bank traces its origins to the broader history of Regional Rural Banking in India, which began with the Narasimham Committee (नरसिम्हम समिति) recommendation of 1975 and the passage of the Regional Rural Banks Act, 1976 (क्षेत्रीय ग्रामीण बैंक अधिनियम, 1976).
The bank was established in 2005 (Phase 1 merger) to serve the rural and agricultural population of Punjab. Its founding mandate — like all RRBs — was to provide credit and banking services specifically to Small and Marginal Farmers (लघु और सीमांत किसान), Agricultural Labourers (कृषि मजदूर), Rural Artisans (ग्रामीण कारीगर), and small rural entrepreneurs who were underserved by mainstream commercial banking.
Punjab National Bank has been the sponsor bank, providing professional management, technology infrastructure, and 35% of the bank's capital. The Central Government (केंद्र सरकार) contributes 50% and the Punjab Government (राज्य सरकार) contributes 15%.
Merger History
विलय इतिहास
Formed in Phase 1 (2005) merger. PNB is sponsor. Punjab Gramin Bank serves the northern Punjab districts. A separate RRB (Punjab Gramin Bank / Sutlej Gramin Bank) may exist for other Punjab districts depending on final 2025 merger configuration. Phase 4 consolidated Punjab into one state RRB.
The series of RRB amalgamations — Phase 1 (2005-06), Phase 2 (2011-12), Phase 3 (2019-21), and Phase 4 (2025) — were all aimed at creating financially stronger, technologically capable, and operationally efficient banks that could better serve rural India. Read our complete RRB Merger Guide (ग्रामीण बैंक विलय गाइड) for full details of all merger phases.
Branch Network and Geographic Coverage
शाखा नेटवर्क और भौगोलिक охват
Punjab Gramin Bank operates over 400 across 10 districts of Punjab (primarily Majha and Doaba regions). The branch network ranges from urban sub-district headquarters to remote village service areas, with Business Correspondents (व्यापार प्रतिनिधि - BCs) extending banking to villages where opening a full branch is not economically viable.
Each branch serves a defined Service Area (सेवा क्षेत्र) — typically 15-25 villages — under the Lead Bank Scheme (लीड बैंक योजना) and Service Area Approach (सेवा क्षेत्र दृष्टिकोण). The bank is the primary banking institution for farmers, SHG members, MGNREGA workers, and PM-KISAN beneficiaries across its service area.
IFSC Code — How to Find Yours
IFSC कोड — अपना IFSC कोड कैसे खोजें
Every branch of Punjab Gramin Bank has a unique IFSC Code (Indian Financial System Code — भारतीय वित्तीय प्रणाली कोड) assigned by the Reserve Bank of India (भारतीय रिज़र्व बैंक). The IFSC code is required for all NEFT (राष्ट्रीय इलेक्ट्रॉनिक निधि अंतरण), RTGS (वास्तविक समय सकल निपटान), and IMPS (तत्काल भुगतान सेवा) transfers.
IFSC Code Structure for Punjab Gramin Bank:
PUGB0XXXXXX
- First 4 characters PUGB = Bank identifier for Punjab Gramin Bank
- 5th character 0 = Always zero (reserved by RBI)
- Last 6 characters = Unique branch code
How to Find Your Branch IFSC Code
अपनी शाखा का IFSC कोड कैसे खोजें
- Fastest: Use our free IFSC Code Finder (IFSC कोड खोजक) — select bank, state, district, branch
- Passbook (पासबुक): Printed on the first page near branch address
- Cheque leaf (चेक पत्ती): Printed near the branch name at top
- Bank website (बैंक वेबसाइट): Branch locator at punjabgraminbank.in
MICR Code
MICR कोड
The MICR Code (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition — चुंबकीय स्याही वर्ण पहचान) is a 9-digit code used for cheque processing through the CTS (Cheque Truncation System — चेक छूट प्रणाली). For Punjab Gramin Bank branches, the MICR code is printed at the bottom of every cheque leaf in magnetic ink. Structure: 3 digits (city) + 3 digits (bank) + 3 digits (branch). You can find MICR codes along with IFSC codes on our IFSC Finder.
Digital Banking Services
डिजिटल बैंकिंग सेवाएं
CBS on PNB platform; mobile banking, internet banking, UPI, NEFT/RTGS/IMPS, RuPay debit cards. High agricultural mechanisation in Punjab means farm equipment loans are a major product.
Available Digital Services at a Glance
एक नज़र में उपलब्ध डिजिटल सेवाएं
| Service (सेवा) | Available (उपलब्ध) | Details (विवरण) |
|---|---|---|
| NEFT/RTGS/IMPS | ✅ Yes | 24×7. IFSC required — find at GraminBankIFSC.com |
| UPI (UPI) | ✅ Yes | Link account to BHIM/GPay/PhonePe |
| Mobile Banking | ✅ Yes | Android app from Play Store |
| Internet Banking | ✅ Yes | Via official website |
| RuPay Debit Card | ✅ Yes | Free for PMJDY accounts; ATM access nationwide |
| Business Correspondent | ✅ Yes | Cash deposit/withdrawal in remote villages |
| *99# USSD Banking | ✅ Yes | Works on any phone without internet |
Government Schemes
सरकारी योजनाएं
Punjab Gramin Bank is a primary channel for government scheme disbursals in Punjab. Key schemes administered through this bank include:
PM-KISAN, PMJDY, KCC (wheat, paddy, sugarcane), MGNREGA, PM Awas Yojana
- PM-KISAN (पीएम-किसान): ₹6,000 annual income support directly to farmer accounts
- PMJDY (प्रधानमंत्री जन धन योजना): Zero-balance accounts with free RuPay debit card
- KCC (किसान क्रेडिट कार्ड): Flexible crop credit at 4–7% interest
- MGNREGA (मनरेगा): Wage payments directly to worker accounts
- SHG-Bank Linkage (SHG-बैंक सहलग्नता): Group loans for women's self-help groups
Customer Care
ग्राहक सेवा
Head Office, Gurdaspur; official website; RBI Ombudsman at 14448.
- Branch Visit (शाखा दौरा): Visit your nearest Punjab Gramin Bank branch with passbook and Aadhaar for all banking queries
- Official Website (आधिकारिक वेबसाइट): punjabgraminbank.in
- RBI Banking Ombudsman (RBI बैंकिंग लोकपाल): Call 14448 (toll-free) or visit bankingombudsman.rbi.org.in for unresolved complaints
Frequently Asked Questions
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले प्रश्न
Q1. How do I find the IFSC code for a specific Punjab Gramin Bank branch?
प्र1. पंजाब ग्रामीण बैंक की किसी विशेष शाखा का IFSC कोड कैसे खोजें?
Use our free IFSC Code Finder — select "Punjab Gramin Bank" from the bank dropdown, choose your state, district, and branch. The IFSC code, MICR code, branch address and contact are displayed instantly.
Q2. Is my deposit safe in Punjab Gramin Bank?
प्र2. क्या पंजाब ग्रामीण बैंक में मेरी जमा राशि सुरक्षित है?
Yes. All deposits in Punjab Gramin Bank are insured by DICGC (जमा बीमा और ऋण गारंटी निगम) up to ₹5 lakh per depositor. Additionally, the bank is backed by the Central Government (50%), Punjab National Bank (35%), and the State Government (15%) — providing triple institutional backing.
Q3. Has the IFSC code changed after the 2025 merger?
प्र3. 2025 के विलय के बाद IFSC कोड बदला है?
Old IFSC codes remain valid during the technical integration period (typically 6–18 months post-merger). The RBI explicitly confirms this in its circulars. Always verify using our live IFSC Finder for the most current codes.
Q4. How do I open an account in Punjab Gramin Bank?
प्र4. पंजाब ग्रामीण बैंक में खाता कैसे खोलें?
Visit your nearest branch with: Aadhaar card (mandatory), PAN card or Form 60 (if no PAN), one passport photo, and initial deposit amount. For a PMJDY zero-balance account (जन धन शून्य-शेष खाता), no minimum deposit is required — just Aadhaar and a photo.
Q5. Can I transfer money from Punjab Gramin Bank to any other bank?
प्र5. क्या मैं पंजाब ग्रामीण बैंक से किसी अन्य बैंक में पैसे अंतरित कर सकता हूं?
Yes, absolutely. Punjab Gramin Bank is fully integrated into India's NEFT, RTGS, IMPS, and UPI payment systems. You can transfer to any bank account in India — PSU banks, private banks, other RRBs, cooperative banks — as long as you have the recipient's account number and IFSC Code (IFSC कोड).
Official References
आधिकारिक संदर्भ
- Bank Official Website: punjabgraminbank.in
- NABARD (Supervisor): nabard.org
- RBI IFSC Database: rbi.org.in
- DICGC (Deposit Insurance): dicgc.org.in
- RBI Banking Ombudsman: bankingombudsman.rbi.org.in
- NPCI (UPI/NEFT/IMPS): npci.org.in