Punjab National Bank (PNB) has invited online applications for recruitment to 545 posts of Local Bank Officer (LBO) in Junior Management Grade Scale-I (JMGS-I). The vacancies are distributed across 17 states, and candidates can apply for only one state based on their eligibility and language proficiency. Online registration is open from 20.07.2026 to 09.08.2026 through the official website, pnb.bank.in. This article covers all details of the notification, including state-wise vacancies, eligibility, salary, selection process, and how to apply.
Important Note: Candidates can apply for a vacancy in one state only – applying against one state makes a candidate ineligible to apply against any other state. Candidates must possess a minimum of one year of post-qualification work experience in Clerical/Officer Cadre in a Scheduled Commercial Bank or RRB. Selected candidates must execute an Indemnity Bond to serve 3 years, or pay Rs. 2,00,000 if they leave early, and must maintain a minimum CIBIL score of 680 or above at the time of joining.
Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | Punjab National Bank (PNB) |
| Post Name | Local Bank Officer (LBO) |
| Post Code | 01 |
| Grade/Scale | JMGS-I |
| Total Vacancies | 545 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Registration Opening Date | 20.07.2026 |
| Registration Closing Date | 09.08.2026 |
| Tentative Online Test Date | August 2026 / September 2026 |
| Selection Process | Online Written Test + Screening + Language Proficiency Test + Interview |
| Official Website | pnb.bank.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Opening Date for Online Registration | 20.07.2026 |
| Closing Date for Online Registration | 09.08.2026 |
| Tentative Date of Online Test | August 2026 / September 2026 |
The exact date, centre, and venue of the Online Written Test will be communicated to candidates via Call Letter, downloadable from the Bank’s website.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee (per candidate) |
|---|---|
| SC / ST / PwBD | Rs. 50/- + GST @18% = Rs. 59/- (postage charges only) |
| All others (UR / OBC-NCL / EWS) | Rs. 1000/- + GST @18% = Rs. 1,180/- |
Payment Mode: Online only (Debit Card, Credit Card, Internet Banking, IMPS, Cash Cards/Mobile Wallets, or UPI). Bank transaction charges borne by the candidate. Fee once paid is non-refundable and cannot be reserved for any other examination.
Vacancy Details – Total 545 Posts (State-Wise)
Candidates must apply for only one state and must be proficient in the mandatory local language specified for that state.
| S.No. | State | Mandatory Language | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andhra Pradesh | Telugu | 4 |
| 2 | Gujarat | Gujarati | 77 |
| 3 | Karnataka | Kannada | 78 |
| 4 | Maharashtra | Marathi | 67 |
| 5 | Telangana | Telugu | 41 |
| 6 | Tamil Nadu | Tamil | 51 |
| 7 | West Bengal | Bengali | 80 |
| 8 | Jammu & Kashmir | Urdu/Dogri/Kashmiri | 9 |
| 9 | Ladakh | Urdu/Purgi/Bhoti | 2 |
| 10 | Arunachal Pradesh | English | 4 |
| 11 | Assam | Assamese/Bodo | 85 |
| 12 | Manipur | Manipuri/Meitei | 6 |
| 13 | Meghalaya | Garo/Khasi | 8 |
| 14 | Mizoram | Mizo | 5 |
| 15 | Nagaland | English | 5 |
| 16 | Sikkim | Nepali/Sikkimese | 5 |
| 17 | Tripura | Bengali/Kokborok | 18 |
Note: PwBD figures are the total reserved across OC, HI, VI, and ID categories combined, as per the official table. Refer to the official notification PDF for the exact category-wise PwBD split for each state.
Key Points on Vacancy Distribution
- Candidates belonging to reserved categories for which no vacancy has been announced in a state may apply against Unreserved (UR) vacancies of that state, if they meet UR eligibility criteria.
- The merit list will be drawn state-wise and category-wise.
- Selected candidates will be posted within the selected state until completion of nine (9) years of service or promotion to SMG Scale IV, whichever is earlier.
- Prior experience will not be considered for seniority in service.
- PwBD reservation is on a horizontal basis; selected PwBD candidates are placed in their applicable category (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/UR) and posted within the state applied for.
Eligibility – Nationality
An applicant must be: a citizen of India; or a subject of Nepal; or a subject of Bhutan; or a Tibetan Refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India; or a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India (requires eligibility certificate issued by the Government of India before the notification date).
Age and Educational Qualification
| Post | Scale | Age (Years) | Educational Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local Bank Officer (LBO) | JMGS-I | Min: 20, Max: 30 | Graduate in any discipline from a University/Institution recognized by the Government of India or its regulatory bodies |
The candidate must possess a valid Mark-sheet/Degree Certificate confirming graduate status on the day of registration, and must indicate the percentage of marks obtained in Graduation while registering online.
Local Language Requirement
Candidates must be proficient in reading, writing, and speaking the specified local language of the state applied for (as per the state-wise vacancy table). A Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT) will be conducted by an external agency for candidates who have not studied the local language as a subject in Class 10 or Class 12.
Post-Qualification Experience
- Candidates must possess a minimum of one year of post-qualification work experience in Clerical/Officer Cadre in any Scheduled Commercial Bank or RRB listed in the Second Schedule of the RBI Act, 1934.
- One advance increment is payable for each completed prior year of service as an Officer in Scheduled Commercial Banks (max 2 increments), if the job profile matches PNB’s Scale-I Generalist Officer.
- Candidates from subsidiaries of Scheduled Commercial Banks (Officer cadre) are eligible for only one advance increment under the same condition.
- Proof of prior experience must be submitted in the prescribed format, duly certified by the previous employer.
- No prior service/experience will be considered for seniority purposes.
Cut-off Dates for Eligibility
| Criteria | Cut-off Date |
|---|---|
| Age | 01.07.2026 |
| Mandatory Experience | 09.08.2026 (closing date) |
| Educational Qualification | 09.08.2026 (closing date) |
The result of the qualifying examination must have been declared on or before 09.08.2026. Candidates must indicate their Graduation percentage to the nearest two decimals; CGPA/OGPA must be converted per the university’s official formula, and a fraction of percentage is ignored (e.g., 59.99% is treated as less than 60%).
Age Relaxation
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 Years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 Years |
| PwBD | 10 Years |
| Ex-Servicemen / Commissioned Officers (ECOs/SSCOs, min 5 years military service) | 5 Years |
| Persons affected by 1984 riots | 5 Years |
The maximum age limit applies to UR and EWS candidates. Relaxation for SC/ST/OBC(NCL) is allowed cumulatively with only one of PwBD/Ex-servicemen/1984 riot-affected. Necessary certificates must be submitted at Interview and any subsequent stage as required.
Salary / Pay Scale
Selected candidates draw pay in the scale of Rs. 48480-2000/7-62480-2340/2-67160-2680/7-85920 under JMGS-I. In addition to Basic Pay, candidates receive Dearness Allowance (DA), City Compensatory Allowance (CCA), HRA/Leased Accommodation, Leave Fare Concession, Medical Insurance, Retirement Benefits, and other perquisites per Bank rules.
Selection Process
Selection is conducted in four phases; the Bank reserves the right to decide whether all or any of these modes are adopted:
- Online Written Test
- Screening
- Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT), if applicable
- Personal Interview
Online Written Test Structure
| Name of the Test | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Sectional Duration (Minutes) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 25 | 25 | 35 |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 25 | 25 | 35 |
| English Language | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 25 | 35 |
| General/Economy/Banking Awareness | 50 | 50 | 50 |
- Negative Marking: one-fourth of the marks assigned to each question deducted per wrong answer.
- Minimum qualifying marks: 40% for General/EWS, 35% for Reserved category, in each section (subject to Bank’s discretion).
Screening
The online application and submitted documents of written-test-qualified candidates are scrutinized to confirm eligibility before the LLPT/Interview. Candidates found ineligible or with incorrect/false documents at any stage are rejected.
Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT)
- Candidates who have not studied the applied-for state’s local language as a subject in Class 10 or 12 must appear for the LLPT.
- The LLPT is qualifying in nature; candidates must secure the Bank-prescribed minimum marks.
- Candidates who fail LLPT are ineligible for final selection, irrespective of performance elsewhere.
- Candidates who studied the local language in Class 10/12 are exempt, subject to submitting valid documentary evidence at verification.
Personal Interview
- All candidates shortlisted after qualifying the Online Written Test are called for interview.
- Carries 50 marks.
- Minimum qualifying marks: 45% (22.50 marks) for SC/ST; 50% (25 marks) for others.
Final Selection
- Based on combined performance in the Online Written Test and Personal Interview, subject to qualifying the LLPT (where applicable).
- Candidates who fail LLPT are ineligible for final selection even if they qualify the written test and interview.
- Merit list prepared state-wise and category-wise.
- Tie-breaker: older candidate (by date of birth) ranked higher.
Examination Centres (Tentative, Representative List)
| State/UT | Online Examination Centres |
|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | Vijayawada/Guntur, Vishakhapatnam, Tirupathi, Srikakulam, Rajahmundry, Ongole |
| Assam | Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Jorhat, Silchar, Tezpur |
| Delhi | Delhi/New Delhi/NCR |
| Gujarat | Ahmedabad/Gandhinagar, Rajkot, Surat/Bardoli, Vadodara/Anand, Mehsana |
| Karnataka | Bengaluru, Hubli-Dharwad, Mysuru, Shivamogga, Mangaluru, Belgavi |
| Maharashtra | Mumbai/Navi Mumbai/Thane/MMR, Nagpur, Nashik, Pune, Kolhapur, and others |
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai, Coimbatore, Tiruchirapalli, Madurai, Salem, Nagercoil/Kanyakumari, Virudhnagar, Tirunelveli |
| Telangana | Hyderabad, Warangal, Mahabubnagar, Karimnagar, Khammam |
| West Bengal | Asansol, Burdwan, Durgapur, Kalyani, Kolkata, Siliguri, Howrah |
This is a partial, representative list. The full notification lists centres for all 26 states/UTs, including Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. The Bank reserves the right to cancel, add, or modify any centre.
Required Documents
Original documents plus self-attested photocopies, to be produced at interview:
- Printout of valid Interview Call Letter
- Valid system-generated printout of the Online Application form
- Proof of Date of Birth (Birth Certificate or SSLC/Std. X Certificate with DOB)
- Photo Identity Proof and Address Proof (Officially Valid Documents)
- Semester-wise/Year-wise Mark sheets and final Degree/Diploma Certificate, with proof of result declaration on or before 09.08.2026
- Income and Asset Certificate (EWS candidates)
- Caste Certificate (SC/ST/OBC, prescribed format matching the Central Government list letter by letter)
- Disability Certificate (PwBD, issued by the District Medical Board)
- Discharge Certificate/Service Book and Pension Payment Order (Ex-Servicemen)
- NOC (candidates serving in Government/PSU/Financial Institutions)
- Experience Certificate in prescribed format, with appointment letter, salary slips, relieving letter, etc.
How to Apply for PNB LBO Recruitment 2026?
- Visit the official PNB website: pnb.bank.in, under Recruitment/Career.
- Click “CLICK HERE FOR NEW REGISTRATION” and enter basic personal details to generate a Provisional Registration Number and Password (also sent via Email/SMS).
- Re-login using these credentials to complete the application form.
- Upload scanned images of photograph, signature, left-hand thumb impression, and hand-written declaration as per prescribed specifications.
- Use “SAVE AND NEXT” to verify details before clicking “COMPLETE REGISTRATION” – no changes allowed after this step.
- Pay the applicable fee through the online payment gateway.
- On successful payment, an e-receipt is generated.
- Take a printout of the submitted application form and e-receipt for personal record; do not send these to the Bank.
Important Note: Applications are accepted online only, from 20.07.2026 to 09.08.2026, through pnb.bank.in. No other mode of application is accepted.
Document Upload Specifications
| Document | Dimensions | File Size | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photograph | 4.5cm × 3.5cm (200×230 px preferred) | 20KB – 50KB | JPG/JPEG |
| Signature | 140×60 px preferred | 10KB – 20KB | JPG/JPEG |
| Left Hand Thumb Impression | 3cm×3cm (240×240 px, 200 DPI) | 20KB – 50KB | JPG/JPEG |
| Hand-written Declaration | 10cm×5cm (800×400 px, 200 DPI) | 50KB – 100KB | JPG/JPEG |
| Caste/Disability Certificate | – | Not exceeding 500KB | |
| Educational Qualification Documents | – | Not exceeding 500KB | |
| Work Experience Documents | – | Not exceeding 500KB |
The photograph must be a recent passport-style colour picture with a light background; caps, hats, and dark glasses are not acceptable (religious headwear allowed if it doesn’t cover the face). Signature and declaration must not be in capital letters. Candidates must also capture a live photograph via webcam/mobile during registration.
Important Instructions
- Candidates previously discharged from PNB or merged entities (for reasons other than VRS/Resignation) are not eligible.
- Candidates with adverse reports on character, antecedents, or moral turpitude are not eligible.
- No reservation for Ex-Servicemen in direct Officer Cadre recruitment; age relaxation still applies per Government guidelines.
- Selected candidates execute an Indemnity Bond to serve at least 3 years, or pay Rs. 2,00,000/- if leaving early.
- Candidates must maintain a minimum CIBIL score of 680 or above at joining (not a pre-condition to apply; candidates with no bank account need not produce CIBIL status).
- Selected candidates are designated “Local Bank Officer”, on probation for 2 years from joining.
- LBOs are deployed within the Circles of the selected state and remain posted there until 9 years of service or promotion to SMG Scale IV, whichever is earlier.
- No TA for Online Test/LLPT; unemployed SC/ST candidates called for interview are paid actual to-and-fro 2nd Class Rail/Ordinary Bus fare.
- Candidates must possess a valid Aadhaar card; Bank may conduct Aadhaar verification at various stages.
- Jurisdiction for disputes: Courts at NCT of Delhi.
Important Links
| Action | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online | Click Here |
| Official Website | Click Here |
Note: Download the detailed official notification directly from the PNB website under Recruitment/Career – only the official government/PSU-linked sources are referenced here.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. How many vacancies are there in PNB LBO Recruitment 2026?
✅ There are 545 vacancies for the post of Local Bank Officer (LBO) in JMGS-I scale, distributed across 17 states.
Q2. What is the educational qualification required for PNB LBO?
✅ Candidates must be a Graduate in any discipline from a recognized University/Institution.
Q3. What is the last date to apply for PNB LBO Recruitment 2026?
✅ The last date for online registration is 09.08.2026.
Q4. What is the age limit for PNB LBO Recruitment 2026?
✅ Candidates must be between 20 and 30 years of age as on the cut-off date of 01.07.2026, with age relaxation applicable for reserved categories.
Q5. Is prior banking experience required for PNB LBO?
✅ Yes. Candidates must possess a minimum of one year of post-qualification work experience in Clerical/Officer Cadre in any Scheduled Commercial Bank or RRB listed in the Second Schedule of the RBI Act, 1934.
Q6. What is the application fee for PNB LBO Recruitment 2026?
✅ Rs. 1,180/- (inclusive of GST) for UR/OBC/EWS candidates, and Rs. 59/- (inclusive of GST, postage charges only) for SC/ST/PwBD candidates.
Q7. Can I apply for PNB LBO in more than one state?
✅ No. Candidates can apply for a vacancy in only one state. Applying against one state makes a candidate ineligible to apply against any other state.
Q8. What is the selection process for PNB LBO Recruitment 2026?
✅ Selection involves four phases: Online Written Test, Screening, Local Language Proficiency Test (if required), and Personal Interview.
Q9. Is there a language test in PNB LBO recruitment?
✅ Yes. Candidates who have not studied the specified local language of the applied state as a subject in Class 10 or 12 must appear for a Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT), which is qualifying in nature.
Q10. Where will selected LBO candidates be posted?
✅ Selected candidates will be posted within the state for which they applied, until completion of 9 years of service or promotion to SMG Scale IV, whichever is earlier.
Disclaimer: All information provided is for reference purposes only. Candidates are advised to verify all details including state-wise vacancy, eligibility, age limit, experience requirements, and application procedure from the official notification and website at pnb.bank.in before applying.
