Punjab National Bank GIFT City Branch Opens in Gandhinagar
The New Branch will Serve Retail and Corporate Customers in India’s Growing Financial Hub.
Punjab National Bank (PNB) has expanded its presence in Gujarat’s financial sector with the opening of its 107th branch at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) in Gandhinagar, marking another step in the public sector lender’s efforts to strengthen its banking network in one of India’s fastest-growing financial districts.
The branch was inaugurated by Punjab National Bank Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Ashok Chandra in the presence of Circle Head Vineesh Kumar Chawla, Zonal Head Abhilasha Bolya, senior bank officials, branch managers, customers, guests and residents.
Speaking during the inauguration, Chandra said, “Punjab National Bank’s objective is not merely to provide banking services, but to be a trusted partner in our customers’ confidence, convenience, and progress. Every new branch represents another significant step towards delivering better, modern, and seamless banking services to our customers.”
He added, “GIFT City symbolises India’s financial future, and Punjab National Bank’s presence here will further strengthen our commitment to innovation, digital banking, and global financial services.”
The new branch will serve both individual customers and businesses operating in GIFT City by offering a full range of banking facilities, including savings and current accounts, digital banking, loan products and other financial services.
The opening comes as GIFT City continues to grow as India’s flagship international financial centre. Developed by the Government of Gujarat and backed by the Government of India, GIFT City was created to attract global financial institutions, insurance companies, fintech firms, stock exchanges and multinational businesses. The project aims to position India as an international financial services destination while reducing the need for Indian companies to conduct certain financial transactions overseas.
The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), established in 2020, regulates banking, insurance, capital markets and financial services within GIFT City through a unified regulatory framework. Since its formation, the financial district has attracted hundreds of domestic and international firms, making it one of the country’s most important financial hubs.
Banks have steadily expanded their presence in the city as demand for specialised financial services grows. Public and private sector lenders, along with foreign banks, have opened branches or International Banking Units to support companies involved in international trade, investment and cross-border financial transactions.
For Punjab National Bank, the latest branch strengthens its footprint in Gujarat, where the bank already operates an extensive network across seven districts through more than 100 branches and multiple business verticals.
Addressing the gathering, Circle Head Vineesh Kumar Chawla described Punjab National Bank as an institution with a long association with India’s freedom movement and nation-building efforts.
He said the bank continues to work according to the values established by its founders by supporting economic development through customer-focused banking services built on trust and transparency.
Founded in 1894 in Lahore, Punjab National Bank is one of India’s oldest public sector banks. After India’s Partition in 1947, the bank shifted its headquarters to New Delhi and gradually expanded across the country. Today it serves millions of customers through thousands of branches, automated teller machines and digital banking channels. In recent years, PNB has invested heavily in technology to improve mobile banking, internet banking and digital payment services as customer preferences continue to move towards online transactions.
Welcoming customers and guests, Zonal Head Abhilasha Bolya said the opening of the GIFT City branch represented an important addition to the bank’s services in the region.
She said the branch would provide faster and dependable banking facilities while helping strengthen the relationship between the bank and its customers. She also expressed confidence that the branch would contribute to the growing financial ecosystem developing in GIFT City.
India’s banking industry has undergone significant changes over the past decade as digital payments, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), online banking and paperless financial services have become increasingly common. Public sector banks have modernised many of their services while continuing to maintain physical branches in business centres where customers require personal banking support alongside digital facilities.
Industry experts believe that branches located in financial districts such as GIFT City remain important despite rapid digital adoption because businesses often require specialised banking advice, trade finance, treasury services and corporate lending facilities that benefit from direct interaction with banking professionals.
Punjab National Bank said the new branch has been designed to offer modern banking services under one roof, including digital banking solutions, loan facilities and financial products for retail as well as corporate customers.
The expansion reflects broader activity in GIFT City, where financial institutions continue to increase their presence as the district develops into a centre for international banking and financial services. With more domestic and overseas companies setting up operations there, demand for banking infrastructure is expected to continue rising.
For customers in Gujarat, particularly businesses operating in GIFT City, the new branch provides another banking option within the financial district while adding to Punjab National Bank’s existing network across the state. The bank said the opening supports its continuing focus on providing secure, accessible and efficient banking services as customer expectations and financial technology continue to evolve.
