PSU Bank's Heart-Melting Initiative, After maternity leave, female employees will receive a special welcome

A new program named PNB Udbhav has been introduced by Punjab National Bank (PNB) to assist and extend a warm welcome to female workers who are returning to work following maternity leave. According to PNB, women frequently find it difficult to return to work after giving birth because of emotional strain, childcare obligations, financial strain, and the need to advance in their careers. 

 The bank launched this employee-friendly initiative as part of its Gender Diversity at Workplace Policy to assist female employees in returning with confidence.

Any woman finds it difficult to return to work after giving baby. After giving birth, a mother experiences profound emotional transformations in addition to physical healing. She experiences weakness, discomfort, anxiety, and occasionally melancholy. She must simultaneously return to her job and leave her newborn at home. Emotional stress, anxiety, and guilt are brought on by this separation. 

 A lot of women struggle to balance parenthood and their careers. Their hearts frequently remain with their child while they are at work. This stage is mentally taxing because to sleep deprivation, ongoing concern for the child, and pressure to do well at work. Some mothers believe they have changed. This is a genuine and widespread emotional issue.

A friendly greeting at work has a significant psychological impact. A woman feels safe, appreciated, and self-assured once more when she is treated with compassion, respect, and understanding. Fear can be lessened and emotional suffering can be healed with a modest gesture like a symbol of welcome or kind words. 

 The returning mother will be contacted by a Nodal Officer or ERG (Employee Resource Group) member one month prior to her joining duty under the PNB Udbhav plan. PNB SPARSH, the bank's teleconsulting service for female employees following maternity leave, would also be explained to her. This program aims to ease worry, tension, and dread while facilitating a seamless return to work.

On the day of rejoining, the employee will be warmly welcomed at the office, preferably with a planter and encouraging words. The ERG Head, ERG Member, or Nodal Officer will be present during this welcome. PNB said that this step is meant to make women employees feel valued and supported as they balance work and family life. All ERG heads, field offices, and head office divisions have been directed to implement this scheme in true spirit.

This initiative will not just help women return to work — it will help them return with dignity, confidence, and emotional strength.

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RBI Ombudsman received over 13 lac complaints in FY 2024-25, while complaints against private sector banks grew

 

The Reserve Bank's Integrated Ombudsman Scheme (RB-IOS) received 13,34,244 complaints in FY 2024-25, up 13.55% from 11,75,075 in FY 2023-24. These Complaints were submitted by email, letter at the CRPC, or through the CMS portal. 

9,11,384 complaints were sent to the CRPC. Of these, 1,08,331 complaints were sent to the ORBIOs and 10,589 to CEPCs for processing. The remaining 7,76,336 were deemed non-maintainable or non-complaints. As of the end of FY 2024-25, 16,128 complaints were pending before the CRPC.

The ORBIOs received a total of 2,96,321 complaints in FY 2024-25, including 1,87,990 through the CMS portal and 1,08,331 recommended by the CRPC. This was a 0.82% rise from 2,93,924 complaints in FY 2023-24. Complaints received per lakh accounts at ORBIOs declined from 8.9 in FY 2023-24 to 7.7 in FY 2024-25 at the national level. 

Of the total complaints at ORBIOs, 91.22% were reported digitally through the CMS site or email. Individuals accounted for the highest share with 2,58,365 complaints (87.19%). Among categories, complaints relating to loans and advances were the greatest in FY 2024-25, followed by credit card complaints. Complaints involving mobile or electronic banking fell by 12.74% year-on-year.

With 2,41,601 cases, or 81.53% of all complaints received by the ORBIOs in FY 2024–2025, complaints against banks constituted the greatest share. NBFCs accounted for 43,864 complaints or 14.80%. 

Among banks, private sector banks received the most complaints, going from 34.39% in FY 2023-24 to 37.53% in FY 2024-25. The percentage of complaints against public sector banks decreased from 38.32% in FY 2023–2024 to 34.80% in FY 2024–2025.

In FY 2024–2025, the ORBIOs resolved 2,90,567 complaints, including ongoing cases, for a disposal rate of 93.07%. Of them, 1,80,621 complaints (62.16%) were manageable, while the rest were categorized as non-maintainable. Of the maintainable complaints, 43.36% were rejected and 51.91% were settled through conciliation, mediation, or mutual settlement. 

The Appellate Authority received 104 challenges against Ombudsman rulings during the year. Of these, 98 were submitted by complainants and 6 by regulated entities.

The Contact Centre (toll free: 14448) operating from Chandigarh, Kochi, and Bhubaneswar, it handled 9,27,598 calls in FY 2024-25, a rise of 28.89% from the previous year. Of these calls, 60.64% were handled through the IVRS system and 38.59% by staff. Abandoned calls dropped sharply to 0.78%. Hindi accounted for 70.43% of calls, English 6.73%, and 22.84% were in regional languages including Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Odia, Punjabi, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, and Telugu.

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State Bank of India(SBI) Specialist Officer (SO) Recruitment 2025 Notification Released for 1042 Posts

State Bank of India(SBI) has issued the official notification for the recruitment of Specialist Officer (SO) posts. A total of 1042 vacancies have been announced under the SBI Bank SO Recruitment 2025. The notification was released on 02 December 2025, and the online application process will remain open from 02 December to 23 December 2025.

SBI SO Recruitment 2025 Overview

Recruitment Organization	State Bank of India
Post Name	Specialist Officer
Vacancies	1042
Job Location	All India
Last Date to Apply	23 December 2025
Mode of Application	Online

<SBI SO Recruitment 2025 Important Dates

• Notification Release: 02 December 2025
• Online Application Starts: 02 December 2025
• Last Date to Apply: 23 December 2025 (till 11:59 PM)
• Fee Payment Last Date: 23 December 2025

SBI SO Recruitment 2025 Selection Process

The selection will be done in the following stages:

• Shortlisting
• Interview
• Document Verification
• Medical Examination

SBI SO Recruitment 2025 Notification PDF & Apply Online Form Link

• Download Notification PDF
• Click here to Apply Online

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Latest Updates on Bank Merger

The Government of India is preparing a big plan to reorganise public-sector banks. If this plan is adopted, the number of government-owned banks will come down from 12 to only four by the financial year 2027. These four banks will be State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB), Bank of Baroda (BoB), and a new, sizable bank created by combining Canara Bank and Union Bank of India, according to sources in a report released by Money Control. The Finance Ministry is working on the idea with the main purpose of strengthening the banks, boosting their financial health and making them strong enough to compete with global lenders.

Canara Bank and Union Bank are scheduled to be combined first. The government is also exploring if Indian Bank and UCO Bank can be incorporated into this same structure. These banks will serve as the primary pillars of the public-sector banking system once they are finished, along with SBI, PNB, and BoB. Other mid-sized banks such as Indian Overseas Bank, Central Bank of India, Bank of India and Bank of Maharashtra may be merged into SBI, PNB or BoB. Punjab & Sind Bank has not yet received a final verdict. Before the plan is implemented, it has to pass through numerous approval phases. It will first be presented to the Minister of Finance.

After that, it will be reviewed by senior officials, examined by the Prime Minister’s Office and checked by SEBI because the decision could affect the stock market. Only after all clearances will the mergers move forward.

The government believes that creating larger and stronger banks will help meet the country’s growing need for credit. Bigger banks can handle large loans, support infrastructure projects and match the growth of private sector banks. Officials also feel that mergers will help cut costs, remove duplicate branches and make better use of capital. They say that this round of consolidation may be smoother than the earlier one because banks today have stronger balance sheets, better systems and more experience in handling mergers.

If this plan becomes a reality, it will be the second major phase of bank consolidation after the 2017–2020 reforms, which reduced the number of state-owned banks from 27 to 12. The new proposal aims to take this change further and build a smaller number of much stronger public-sector banks that can support India’s future growth.

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Meeting for the merger and privatization of PSU banks may be held soon by the prime minister's office

                                       

As per the report, the Privatisation of two public sector banks may be discussed. The meeting is likely to discuss bank consolidation, more operational autonomy for boards of state-run banks, raising FDI limits in PSBs to 49 percent from the current 20 percent, and supporting these banks’ need for additional capital.

The inter-ministerial discussions on the reforms in PSU Banks is in the final stages, and once the PMO meeting is concluded, political decisions will be taken closer to the Budget. The Central government is planning to execute its agenda between 2026 and 2028, before the 2029 general elections.

India is considering increasing the foreign investment limit in public sector banks (PSBs) from the current 20% to 49% in an effort to strengthen these banks and make it easier for them to raise capital. As per the information available till now, while higher foreign stakes may be allowed, the government’s shareholding in PSBs will not fall below 51%, thereby ensuring their public sector status. A final decision will be taken at the highest level of government.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on November 6 had also confirmed that the government has begun work on the next phase of public sector bank (PSB) consolidation. She said India now needs several big, world-class banks to support the requirements of a fast-growing economy.

As per sources, the government is considering merging Indian Overseas Bank (IOB), Central Bank of India (CBI), Bank of India (BOI), and Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) with larger banks such as Punjab National Bank (PNB), Bank of Baroda (BoB), and State Bank of India (SBI).

The latest merger proposal also follows NITI Aayog’s recommendation to restructure or privatise smaller PSBs such as IOB and CBI. The government’s think tank had earlier suggested keeping only a few large state-run banks — SBI, PNB, BoB, and Canara Bank — while merging or reducing the government’s stake in the rest. The current plan builds on those earlier recommendations but aligns them with today’s conditions. With fintech and private banks growing rapidly, the idea is to position public sector banks strategically instead of spreading them too thin.

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Bank ordered to reimburse Rs. 1 lakh that was lost due to unauthorized ATM transactions

                                 

After money was taken out of a Chandigarh resident's savings account through unauthorized transactions, the district consumer complaints redressal panel in Chandigarh ordered Allahabad Bank (now Indian Bank) to reimburse Rs.1,00,078.Nine transactions were of Rs.9,999 each and one was of Rs.10,087, making a total of Rs.1,00,078.49.

According to the case details, On November 17, 2025, the order was given in response to a complaint made by Hallomajra resident Namrata Naman Jha. She said that on July 29, 2020, ten unlawful transactions were made using her ATM card.

Jha notified the bank and the cybercrime cell that same day and blocked her ATM card right away. She also complained to the bank online. On August 4, 2020, the bank responded, stating that they had granted a shadow credit and need a copy of a FIR in order to take additional action.

However, the commission said the bank failed to provide proof that the customer was at fault. It referred to the Reserve Bank of India’s July 2017 circular on unauthorized electronic transactions. The circular says that banks must prove customer liability in such cases and that customers have zero liability if the fraud is due to a third-party breach and is reported within three working days.

The commission noted that Jha reported the fraud immediately to both the bank and the cyber crime cell. It also said the bank failed to resolve the complaint within the required 90 days as per RBI rules. The commission stated that the bank did not follow RBI guidelines and did not address the complaint on time, which amounted to deficiency in service. It directed the bank to refund Rs.1,00,078 to Jha with 9% annual interest from July 29, 2020, until payment. The bank was also ordered to pay Rs.10,000 as compensation for harassment and litigation costs.

Zero Liability of a Customer

A customer’s entitlement to zero liability shall arise where the unauthorised transaction occurs in the following events:

1. Contributory fraud/ negligence/ deficiency on the part of the bank (irrespective of whether or not the transaction is reported by the customer).
2. Third party breach where the deficiency lies neither with the bank nor with the customer but lies elsewhere in the system, and the customer notifies the bank within three working days of receiving the communication from the bank regarding the unauthorised transaction.

Limited Liability of a Customer

A customer shall be liable for the loss occurring due to unauthorised transactions in the following cases:

1. In cases where the loss is due to negligence by a customer, such as where he has shared the payment credentials, the customer will bear the entire loss until he reports the unauthorised transaction to the bank. Any loss occurring after the reporting of the unauthorised transaction shall be borne by the bank.
2. In cases where the responsibility for the unauthorised electronic banking transaction lies neither with the bank nor with the customer, but lies elsewhere in the system and when there is a delay (of four to seven working days after receiving the communication from the bank) on the part of the customer in notifying the bank of such a transaction, the per transaction liability of the customer shall be limited to the transaction value or the amount mentioned in Table below, whichever is lower.

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AGM sentenced 1 Year Jail for irregularities in Loan Sanction and Disbursement

In a 2008 loan fraud case involving Vijaya Bank and Roshan Electrical Pvt Ltd, a special CBI court has rendered its decision. On April 1, 2019, Vijaya Bank, a PSU bank with its headquarters in Bangalore, Karnataka, India, merged with Bank of Baroda. Anitha Mathias, a director of the company, was found guilty by the court of actively managing the company and being personally involved in the fraudulent operations. She was sentenced to three years in prison and fined Rs 1 crore.

The Assistant General Manager of Vijaya Bank's Goregaon branch, Shridhar Shetty, was also convicted by the court of conspiring to commit fraud. He was fined Rs 50,000 and given a one-year prison sentence. However, due to a lack of evidence, the court cleared Mahesh Kotian, the manager of Bharat Cooperative Bank, and closed the case against Maxima Mathias, Anitha's husband, who died during the trial. 

 The matter started when an anonymous allegation prompted Vijaya Bank to launch an internal investigation. Roshan Electrical has long-standing accounts with Bharat Cooperative Bank and had a cash credit limit of Rs 12 crore, according to the CBI's Economic Offences Wing.

Despite concerns, Shetty sanctioned Rs 20 crore as cash credit and Rs 10 lakh as bank guarantee, supported by a confidential report from Bharat Cooperative Bank that failed to mention key details such as four sister concerns of the firm and multiple dishonoured cheques. Investigators claimed that Shetty released Rs 21 crore—far more than the approved takeover amount of Rs 13.02 crore—without ensuring the transfer of a Rs 3 crore term deposit that was supposed to serve as security.

During the trial, both Anitha and Shetty argued that they were wrongly implicated, but the court rejected their claims. It held that Anitha was actively involved in the company’s operations and that Shetty knowingly violated procedures, making him part of the conspiracy. The court also observed that although the CBI did not fully investigate Kotian’s alleged role in suppressing facts, there was insufficient evidence to convict him. The verdict highlights serious procedural lapses and underscores the court’s intent to send a strong message against financial fraud and misuse of banking systems.

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Good News for this PSU Bank Employees! Bank officially declares to absorb Tax on Perquisites

Punjab National Bank (PNB) has finally declared to absorb 100% Tax on Perquisites. PNB has released an official circular regarding the same. Earlier, a few weeks ago, PNB MD&CEO, in a meeting, had announced the decision of the bank to absorb 100% Tax on Perquisites. Earlier, PNB was paying only 50% Tax on Perquisites, and employees had to pay 50% Tax.

Perquisites are benefits given to bank employees, such as interest-free loans or loans at very low interest rates. Bank employees receive car loans and other loans at lower rates compared to the general public. The court has now ordered banks to apply tax on these perquisites. This was one of the major benefits for bank employees, but after the court’s order, this advantage will no longer remain as beneficial.

Now, PNB will bear 100% of the TDS liability on perquisite value of interest free loans & loans at concessional rate of interest for FY 2025-2026. But this is not permanent. The decision on continuation or modification of this relief in future years shall be reviewed depending on the Bank’s operating profit and overall financial position.

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State Bank of India(SBI) Ordered to Pay Rs.7 Lakh Compensation for Delay

The State Bank of India (SBI) has been ordered by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Kanpur Nagar to compensate an advocate who was unable to attend a recruitment exam due to the bank's failure to deposit his examination fee with ₹7,00,000. According to the Commission, the complainant suffered "irreparable physical, mental, and economic loss" as a result of this failure. 

 On October 16, 2018, an advocate named Mr. Avnish Verma filed a complaint against the SBI Chairperson, SBI Nodal Officer, and Branch Manager of the SBI Krishna Nagar Branch in Kanpur Nagar. Mr. Verma was eligible to take the UP Public Service Commission's (UPPSC) 2015 Assistant Prosecution Officer (A.P.O.) preliminary test. He deposited the necessary ₹225 at SBI Krishna Nagar in order to take the main exam.

Nevertheless, the fee was not deposited into the UPPSC account by the bank clerk. Rather, a general receipt (No. 41514396) that was invalid for the examination procedure was issued by the clerk. Mr. Verma claimed that the bank employee's negligent, irresponsible, and malevolent actions were to blame for this. 

 The candidate had to amend the fee information on the UPPSC website in accordance with the exam regulations. Two days after paying the charge, Mr. Verma attempted to update the data, but the attempt was unsuccessful. The bank only told him that there was a "technical issue" and requested that he try again at a later time. The update failed once more on December 11, 2015.

Unfortunately December 12, 2015 was Second Saturday (bank holiday) and December 13, 2015 was Sunday (UPPSC deadline). Because of this, he could not complete the process and ultimately missed the opportunity to appear in the A.P.O. 2015 Main Exam. Mr. Verma stated that this mistake caused serious damage to his career prospects, along with mental and financial loss.

Complaint lodged in RBI Ombudsman 

The complainant submitted a complaint to the RBI's Banking Ombudsman on December 11, 2015. On April 8, 2016, the SBI Branch Manager responded by acknowledging the error in a letter of apologies. Mr. Verma refused to accept the Banking Ombudsman's subsequent ruling for SBI to pay ₹10,000 in compensation. 

 He then filed a claim for ₹20,000,000 in compensation with the Consumer Commission. Despite receiving notices, SBI representatives failed to show up before the Commission. Consequently, on May 14, 2019, the Commission moved forward ex-parte. SBI did not pay the ₹300 fee imposed by the Commission, despite later filing a recall application. As a result, on November 17, 2022, their written statement was ruled inadmissible, and they were prohibited from testifying.

The complainant, however, submitted strong documentary proof, including Fee deposit receipt, UPPSC notifications, Complaint to Banking Ombudsman, SBI apology letter, Marksheets and other documents showing past exam performance.

Commission’s Findings

The Commission held that:

* SBI clearly failed to deposit the fee.

* The mistake prevented the complainant from appearing in a major competitive exam.

* This caused irreparable loss to his career.

* The bank admitted its mistake through the apology letter.

* Even the Banking Ombudsman had found SBI at fault.

Final Order of the Commission

The Commission partially allowed the complaint and ordered SBI (all opposite parties jointly and severally) to:

* Pay ₹7,00,000 (Seven Lakh) as lump sum compensation For the complainant’s career loss and mental, physical, and financial suffering.

* Pay 7% simple annual interest From the date of filing the complaint (October 16, 2018) till actual payment.

* Pay ₹10,000 as litigation cost.

The bank must comply with the order within 45 days from the date of judgment.

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Financial Results of PSU and Private Banks for Q2FY26

The public sector and private sector banks have released the financial results for Q2FY26. 

Public Sector Bank

Bank	Results
Bank of India(BoI)	Click Here
Punjab & Sind Bank	Click Here
Central Bank of India	Click Here
Union Bank of India	Click Here
Indian Overseas Bank	Click Here
Bank of Maharashtra	Click Here
State Bank of India(SBI)	Click Here
Punjab National Bank(PNB)	Click Here
Bank of Baroda(BoB)	Click Here
Canara Bank	Click Here
Indian Bank	Click Here
UCO Bank	Click Here

Private Banks

Bank	Results
IDBI Bank	Click Here
Kotak Mahindra Bank	Click Here
IDFC First Bank	Click Here
HDFC Bank	Click Here
ICICI Bank	Click Here
Indusind Bank	Click Here
Federal Bank	Click Here
Bandhan Bank	Click Here
Axis Bank	Click Here

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