PNB Rejecting TA Bills of Officers for using Own Car without Prior Permission

Punjab National Bank (PNB) is rejecting TA Bills of Officers for using own vehicles (cars) for travelling without prior permission from authority. As per current policy, officers need to first take permission from Circle Office to travel by their own Car and if permission is granted then only they can travel by their own car and TA bill gets approved. This condition applies even if officers travel for urgent official work.

Now, AIPNBOA has strongly objected to it. In a strong representation made to the top management of Punjab National Bank (PNB), the All India PNB Officers’ Association (AIPNBOA) has demanded the immediate withdrawal of this policy. The association has termed the policy “impractical” and “demotivating,” citing its negative impact on efficiency and officer morale.

AIPNBOA General Secretary has written a letter to MD&CEO of PNB and asked him to look into the issue. The issue has come into the spotlight after several travel allowance (TA) claims were reportedly rejected by the Staff Welfare and Compensation Cell (SWCC), citing the lack of prior permission from authority.

According to AIPNBOA, officers are being denied reimbursement for official travel undertaken in their personal vehicles simply because they did not obtain prior approval – a process which is often not practical in real-life situations. The rejection of these TA bills has reportedly led to frustration and dissatisfaction among field officers.

The association highlighted that officers frequently need to travel at short notice for a wide range of duties, including:

• Stock verification
• Loan sanction and follow-up visits
• End-use verification of loans
• Security assessments
• Field verification of borrower and customer addresses
• Locker rent recovery
• Legal and recovery work
• Customer outreach and financial awareness programs
• Business development and loan recovery drives

These tasks cannot wait for formal approvals, especially in emergencies or time-sensitive cases. The association pointed out that even in urban and semi-urban areas, public transport is often unavailable or unsuitable, and personal vehicles are the only reliable option for timely travel.

In the letter, AIPNBOA also flagged issues faced by branch heads and senior officers who, under the current rules, must seek approval from the Circle Head for any official travel in their own vehicle. Circle Head is also a busy official and may not be immediately available to grant permission which leads to delays and procedural hurdles.

The association further expressed concern that the overall atmosphere created by such policies reflects a “lack of trust” in officers. “It is as if every officer is considered a thief until proven otherwise,” the letter stated. This is not only demoralizing but also harmful to the working environment, particularly for junior officers working under pressure in field conditions.

AIPNBOA also highlighted related problems in the bank’s travel and expense policy. These include:

• No reimbursement for airline seat costs
• Partial diem allowance even when the officer arranges their own hotel stay during outstation duty
  These policies, according to the association, are making it increasingly difficult for officers to perform their duties efficiently.

AIPNBOA has urged PNB management to do away with the prior permission clause for the use of personal vehicles in routine official duties. The association suggested that this requirement should only be retained for LFC (Leave Fare Concession) and transfer cases, where prior planning is possible.

“The very purpose of reimbursing travel expenses is to enable officers to discharge their responsibilities smoothly and in the bank’s best interest,” the letter stated. “Unfortunately, the current rule is doing the opposite—blocking efficiency and lowering morale.”

AIPNBOA has requested the MD & CEO to give immediate attention to the issue and issue an amendment to the current policy. Officers across the network are now waiting to see how the management responds to this critical demand that touches the day-to-day functioning of bank staff on the ground.