Punjab National Bank, PNB, on Monday said it will recruit about 6,000 to 8,000 personnel each year for the next few years and open 500 branches across the country in the current year. Bank's Executive Director S R Bansal told reporters in Tiruchirappali ,as of now, the bankhas over 5,800 branches across the country. The new branches would include about 22 in Tamil Nadu and 10 in Tiruchirappali circle alone. Its new venture, PNB Pragati, which offers round the clock services, among other things, is in the pilot stage

after its August 2012 launch. He said, PNB will convert 500 existing branches into PNB Pragati in metro and urban locations before December 2012.The 24×7 service would include withdrawal of cash, deposit of cash and cheque and updation and printing of passbooks in specially installed machines and trained staff at venue of the branches.

PNB has a customer base of 17 million. As of June 2012, net NPA stood at 3.34 per cent and Capital Adequacy Ratio at 13 per cent .