Pnb Fails To Meet Automation Deadline

Computerisation at Punjab National Bank (PNB) has hit a road block in West Bengal following opposition from a section of employees.

The bank has failed to automate any of the 22 profit-making branches it has identified for computerisation in Kolkata. The bank has marked 39 branches in the state, and only one was successfully automated.

The management had targeted completion of branch automation by December 2000 and has already procured monitors and CPUs along with other necessary accessories to this effect. Sources say the staff required for the purpose were also trained.

The cut-off date for completion of automation was postponed to March 2001 following the bank's failure to meet the deadline. Though the management has failed in meeting the deadline, the bank has already charged depreciation for the computers purchased at 33.5 per cent to last year's balance sheet.

Following resistance from employees at its branches in Kolkata, the management might be forced to shift the machines to other centres, say bank officials.

While it has successfully computerised eight branches in the eastern region, it has partially computerised seven branches in the zone. The bank as a whole stands at the 23rd position with respect of computerisation. PNB has 244 fully computerised branches and 272 partially computerised branches. The total number of branches at PNB is 4,100.

Meanwhile, deposits have grown from Rs 2,560 crore in 1999-2000 to Rs 2,938 crore in 2000-01. Advances were at Rs 1,758 crore against Rs 1,518 crore.