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. This article covers all details of the notification, including state-wise vacancies, eligibility, salary, selection process, and how to apply.
Official Notification: Recruitment of Local Bank Officers in Punjab National Bank
PNB LBO Recruitment 2026: Quick Overview
PNB LBO Recruitment 2026 Important Dates
- 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.
Also Read: Union Bank of India SO Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online for 395 Officer & Specialist Officer Posts
PNB LBO Recruitment 2026: State-wise Vacancy Details
A total of 545 vacancies are notified across 17 states/UTs. Candidates must apply for only one state and must be proficient in the mandatory local language specified for that state. The Bank has clarified that the number of vacancies, including reserved category vacancies, is provisional and subject to change.
Note: PwBD figures shown are the total reserved across OC (Orthopedically Challenged), HI (Hearing Impaired), VI (Visually Impaired), and ID (Intellectual Disability) 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.
- Candidates can apply for a vacancy in one state only. Applying against one state makes a candidate ineligible to apply against any other state.
- 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 will be placed in their applicable category (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/UR) and posted within the state applied for, at locations identified suitable by the Bank.
PNB LBO Recruitment 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Nationality/Citizenship
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 1st 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.
Candidates in the last four categories must have a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India before the date of this notification, and must also be proficient in the local language of the state applied for.
Candidates who have completed their graduation in any discipline can also explore more Bank Officer Jobs and Graduate Government Jobs available across India.
Age and Educational Qualification
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 for which they are applying (as listed in 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 Regional Rural Bank 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 (subject to a maximum of 2 increments), if the job profile matches that of a Scale-I Generalist Officer of PNB.
- 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.
- Experience in other financial institutions will not be considered if the job profile does not substantially match that of a PNB Scale-I Generalist Officer.
- No prior service/experience will be considered for seniority purposes.
Cut-off Dates for Eligibility
- Age: Reckoned as on 01.07.2026
- Mandatory Experience: Reckoned as on the closing date for online registration, i.e., 09.08.2026
- Educational Qualification: Reckoned as on the closing date for online registration, i.e., 09.08.2026
- The result of the qualifying examination must have been declared on or before 09.08.2026.
- Candidates must indicate the percentage obtained in Graduation to the nearest two decimals; CGPA/OGPA must be converted to percentage as per the university’s official conversion formula. A fraction of percentage will be ignored (e.g., 59.99% will be treated as less than 60%).
PNB LBO Recruitment 2026 Age Relaxation
The maximum age limit is applicable to Unreserved (UR) and EWS category candidates. Relaxation for SC/ST/OBC(NCL) is allowed cumulatively with only one of the remaining categories under (iii) to (v) above. Candidates seeking relaxation must submit the necessary certificates at the time of Interview and at any subsequent stage as required by the Bank.
PNB LBO Recruitment 2026: Salary and Perquisites
Selected candidates will 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, selected candidates will be entitled to Dearness Allowance (DA), City Compensatory Allowance (CCA), HRA/Leased Accommodation, Leave Fare Concession, Medical Insurance, Retirement Benefits, and other perquisites as per Bank rules.
PNB LBO Recruitment 2026 Application Fee
Payment is accepted only through online mode (Debit Card, Credit Card, Internet Banking, IMPS, Cash Cards/Mobile Wallets, or UPI). Bank transaction charges for online payment are to be borne by the candidate. The fee, once paid, is non-refundable under any circumstances and cannot be reserved for any other examination.
PNB LBO Recruitment 2026 Selection Process
Selection for the post of Local Bank Officer shall be conducted in four phases. The Bank reserves the right to decide whether all or any of these modes shall be adopted:
- Online Written Test
- Screening
- Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT), if applicable
- Personal Interview
Online Written Test Structure
- There is negative marking: one-fourth of the marks assigned to each question is deducted for each wrong answer.
- Minimum qualifying marks: 40% for General/EWS category, 35% for Reserved category, in each section. The Bank reserves the right to revise this at its discretion.
Screening
The online application and submitted documents of written-test-qualified candidates will be scrutinized to confirm eligibility before the Language Proficiency Test/Interview. Candidates found ineligible or with incorrect/false documents at any stage will be rejected from further participation.
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 qualifying marks to be considered for final selection.
- Candidates who fail to qualify the LLPT are treated as ineligible for final selection, irrespective of performance in other stages.
- Candidates who indicate they studied the local language in Class 10/12 are exempt from LLPT, subject to submission of valid documentary evidence at verification.
Personal Interview
- All candidates shortlisted after qualifying the Online Written Test will be called for interview.
- The Personal Interview carries 50 marks.
- Minimum qualifying marks: 45% (22.50 marks) for SC/ST candidates; 50% (25 marks) for other candidates.
- Candidates who fail to secure minimum qualifying marks in the interview will be disqualified.
Final Selection
- Final selection is based on combined performance in the Online Written Test and Personal Interview, subject to qualifying the LLPT (where applicable).
- Candidates who fail the LLPT are ineligible for final selection even if they qualify in the written test and interview.
- The merit list is prepared state-wise and category-wise.
- In case of a tie, the older candidate (by date of birth) is placed higher in the merit list.
PNB LBO Recruitment 2026: Examination Centres (Tentative)
Note: 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 examination centre.
PNB LBO Recruitment 2026 Required Documents
The following original documents, along with a self-attested photocopy, must be produced at the time of interview:
- Printout of the 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 (for EWS candidates)
- Caste Certificate (for SC/ST/OBC candidates, in the prescribed format, matching the Central Government list letter by letter)
- Disability Certificate (for PwBD candidates, issued by the District Medical Board)
- Discharge Certificate/Service Book and Pension Payment Order (for Ex-Servicemen)
- No Objection Certificate (for candidates serving in Government/PSU/Financial Institutions)
- Experience Certificate in the prescribed format, along with appointment letter, salary slips, relieving letter, etc.
- Any other relevant documents in support of eligibility
How to Apply for PNB LBO Recruitment 2026
- Visit the official PNB website: https://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 the Provisional Registration Number and Password to complete the application form.
- Upload scanned images of photograph, signature, left-hand thumb impression, and hand-written declaration as per prescribed specifications (see below).
- Use “SAVE AND NEXT” to verify details before clicking “COMPLETE REGISTRATION” – no changes are allowed after this step.
- Pay the applicable application fee through the online payment gateway (Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, IMPS, Wallets, or UPI).
- On successful payment, an e-receipt will be generated.
- Take a printout of the submitted application form and e-receipt for personal record; do not send these to the Bank.
Applications are accepted online only, from 20.07.2026 to 09.08.2026, through https://pnb.bank.in/. No other mode of application will be accepted.
Document Upload Specifications
The photograph must be a recent passport-style colour picture with a light-coloured background; caps, hats, and dark glasses are not acceptable (religious headwear is allowed if it doesn’t cover the face). The signature and hand-written declaration must NOT be in capital letters. Candidates must also capture a live photograph via webcam or mobile phone during registration.
PNB LBO Recruitment 2026: Important Instructions
- Candidates who have earlier worked in PNB or its merged/amalgamated entities and were discharged for reasons other than VRS/Resignation are not eligible to apply.
- Candidates against whom there are adverse reports regarding character, antecedents, or moral turpitude are not eligible to apply.
- There is no reservation for Ex-Servicemen in direct recruitment to Officer Cadre; however, age relaxation applies as per Government guidelines.
- Selected candidates must execute an Indemnity Bond to serve the Bank for at least 3 years, or pay Rs. 2,00,000/- if they leave before completing 3 years of service.
- Candidates must maintain a minimum CIBIL score of 680 or above at the time of joining. This is not a pre-condition to apply, and candidates with no bank account are not required to produce CIBIL status.
- Selected candidates will be designated “Local Bank Officer” and will be on probation for 2 years from the date of joining.
- After induction training, LBOs will be deployed within the Circles of the state for which they were selected, and will remain posted in that state until completion of 9 years of service or promotion to SMG Scale IV, whichever is earlier.
- No Travelling Allowance is payable for the Online Test and LLPT. Unemployed SC/ST candidates called for interview will be paid actual to-and-fro 2nd Class Rail/Ordinary Bus fare.
- Candidates must possess a valid Aadhaar card; the Bank may conduct Aadhaar verification at various stages.
- Any dispute arising from this recruitment is subject to the sole jurisdiction of the Courts situated at NCT of Delhi.
- The Bank reserves the right to cancel or modify the recruitment process at any stage without prior notice.
PNB LBO Recruitment 2026: Important Links
Candidates looking for more banking sector opportunities can also explore the latest IBPS PO Recruitment and SBI PO Recruitment notifications. Applicants based in or near Delhi/NCR can check Delhi Government Jobs for upcoming vacancies. Those interested in nationwide public sector roles can also browse more PSU Bank Jobs and Clerk Recruitment notifications matching their qualification.
