RBI Imposes ₹1.27 Lakh Penalty on Punjab National Bank for Currency Chest Shortage

Punjab National Bank has been penalized by the Reserve Bank of India for operational lapses in currency management. The public sector bank disclosed the regulatory action on January 9, revealing specific details about the penalty and its financial implications.

Penalty Details

The central bank imposed the monetary penalty following a compliance review that identified issues with the bank's currency chest operations. The penalty stems from a minor shortage of notes discovered at one of PNB's currency chests during regulatory inspection.

Parameter:	Details
Penalty Amount:	₹1,27,150
Reason:	Minor shortage of notes at currency chest
Disclosure Date:	January 9
Financial Impact:	No significant impact stated

Bank's Response

Punjab National Bank has acknowledged the penalty and provided assurance regarding its financial position. The bank emphasized that the imposed penalty will not create any significant financial burden on its operations or affect its overall performance metrics.

Regulatory Context

Currency chests serve as critical infrastructure in India's banking system, acting as storage points for currency notes and coins. Banks operating these facilities must maintain strict compliance with RBI guidelines regarding inventory management, security protocols, and accurate record-keeping. Any discrepancies in currency holdings can result in regulatory penalties as part of the central bank's supervisory framework.

The penalty reflects RBI's continued focus on ensuring proper currency management across the banking sector, with regular inspections and compliance reviews forming part of standard regulatory oversight.

1 Day	5 Days	1 Month	6 Months	1 Year	5 Years
+0.07%	-0.84%	+5.95%	+9.72%	+20.53%	+247.18%

Punjab National Bank has received a monetary penalty from the Reserve Bank of India for operational deficiencies related to currency chest management. The bank disclosed this regulatory action in compliance with securities market regulations on January 09, 2026.

Penalty Details and Regulatory Action

The Reserve Bank of India imposed a monetary penalty on the bank for shortage of notes at currency chest operations. The bank received the RBI order on January 08, 2026, and promptly made the required regulatory disclosure the following day.

Parameter:	Details
Penalty Amount:	₹1,27,150
Regulatory Authority:	Reserve Bank of India
Order Receipt Date:	January 08, 2026
Violation Type:	Shortage of Notes at Currency Chest

Financial and Operational Impact

The bank has indicated that the financial impact of this regulatory action will be limited to the penalty amount itself. The ₹1,27,150 penalty represents a relatively minor financial consequence for the banking institution.

Regulatory Compliance and Disclosure

Punjab National Bank made this disclosure pursuant to Regulation 30 read with Schedule III Para A Sub Para 20 of SEBI LODR, 2015. The disclosure was signed by Company Secretary Bikramjit Shom and communicated to both the National Stock Exchange of India Limited and BSE Limited.

The bank's prompt disclosure demonstrates compliance with securities market transparency requirements for material regulatory actions affecting listed entities.