Punjab National Bank (PNB) is aiming to enter the world’s top 100 banks within the next two years, driven by stronger credit growth, improved profitability and expansion into new business areas. The New Delhi-based lender, India’s third-largest state-owned bank by assets, expects its growth strategy to strengthen its financial position and enhance its global standing.
PNB Chief Executive Officer Ashok Chandra said the bank’s current growth trajectory, profitability and improving asset quality place it in a strong position for further expansion. He expressed confidence that better efficiency and financial performance would support improved market valuation.
The move comes as Indian authorities focus on developing stronger and larger banks capable of supporting major infrastructure and industrial projects in the country’s rapidly growing economy. At present, only State Bank of India and private-sector lender HDFC Bank are among the world’s top 100 banks by total assets.
According to available data, PNB currently ranks among the world’s 125 largest banks. The lender, which was among the banks severely affected by India’s corporate bad-loan crisis a decade ago, has since strengthened its balance sheet and shifted focus towards higher-return businesses.
PNB reported a significant rise in net profit during the April-June quarter, while its balance sheet expanded nearly 9 per cent year-on-year to ₹19.90 trillion by the end of June. Chandra expects the bank’s balance sheet to more than double to ₹48 trillion by 2030 through loan growth and asset expansion. With continued reforms and business growth, PNB is positioning itself for a stronger role in the global banking sector.
