Lok Sabha Question No. 3096 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-20
Subject: PSB Branches
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Karti P. Chidambaram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3096

To be answered on the March 20, 2023/Phalguna 29,1944 (Saka)

## PSB Branches

## 3096. SHRI KARTI P. CHIDAMBARAM:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) the total number of Public Sector Bank (PSB) branches that have been completely shut down in the last five financial years including provisional data for the current year, PSB-wise and year-wise;
- (b) the total number of PSB branches that have been merged with other banks during the said period, PSB-wise and year-wise;
- (c) the number of branches shut down in metropolitan, urban, semi-urban and rural areas during the said period, PSB-wise and year-wise;
- (d) the number of branches merged with other banks in metropolitan, urban, semi-urban and rural areas during the said period, PSB-wise and year-wise;
- (e) the number of staff persons in PSBs during the said period, PSB-wise and year-wise; and
- (f) whether there has been a reduction in staff strength at PSBs over the time and if so, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE (DR. BHAGWAT KARAD)

(a)  to  (f):  Banks  may  merge  their  branch  with  another  branch  of  the  bank  or  completely  close  their branches, while ensuring that customers of the branch, which is being merged or closed are informed well in time, before actual merger/closure of the branch so as to avoid inconvenience to them in addition to other requirements as per Reserve Bank of India (RBI) master circular on branch authorisation. As per inputs received from Public Sector Banks (PSBs), no branch of a PSB has been either completely shutdown or merged with other banks.

PSBs are commercial entities governed by their respective boards. The requirement of manpower in each PSB is determined by the respective PSB keeping in view various factors which include, inter alia, business requirement, spread of activities, superannuation and other unplanned exits. Appointment of officers and staff is done accordingly by the PSBs and it varies from year to year based on their requirements.

The number of staff persons in PSBs as on 31 st March of last five-years and as on 31 st December 2022, PSB-wise and year-wise are at Annex.

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Annex Number of staff persons in PSBs as on 31 st  March of last five-years and as on 31 st

## December 2022, PSB-wise and year-wise

| Bank name             | Number of staff persons as on   | Number of staff persons as on   | Number of staff persons as on   | Number of staff persons as on   | Number of staff persons as on   | Number of staff persons as on   |
|-----------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
| Bank name             | 31.3.2018                       | 31.3.2019                       | 31.3.2020                       | 31.3.2021                       | 31.3.2022                       | 31.12.2022                      |
| Bank of Baroda        | 84,437                          | 84,100                          | 84,113                          | 82,017                          | 78,749                          | 76,958                          |
| Bank of India         | 48,680                          | 48,807                          | 49,767                          | 51,459                          | 51,825                          | 52,678                          |
| Bank of Maharashtra   | 12,932                          | 12,913                          | 12,532                          | 12,387                          | 12,702                          | 13,103                          |
| Canara Bank           | 93,964                          | 92,513                          | 91,598                          | 88,213                          | 86,919                          | 85,728                          |
| Central Bank of India | 36,843                          | 35,675                          | 33,481                          | 32,335                          | 30,289                          | 31,272                          |
| Indian Bank           | 44,032                          | 43,011                          | 42,061                          | 42,601                          | 40,751                          | 42,184                          |
| Indian Overseas Bank  | 28,990                          | 27,219                          | 25,625                          | 24,306                          | 23,013                          | 22,237                          |
| Punjab National Bank  | 1,12,187                        | 1,06,836                        | 1,03,105                        | 1,01,802                        | 1,03,144                        | 1,04,615                        |
| Punjab & Sind Bank    | 9,320                           | 8,948                           | 8,862                           | 8,832                           | 8,725                           | 9,164                           |
| State Bank of India   | 2,63,227                        | 2,56,486                        | 2,48,635                        | 2,42,597                        | 2,39,048                        | 2,35,006                        |
| UCO Bank              | 23,943                          | 23,133                          | 22,436                          | 22,012                          | 21,617                          | 21,856                          |
| Union Bank of India   | 76,694                          | 77,027                          | 80,097                          | 78,203                          | 75,201                          | 76,168                          |

Source: Public Sector Banks.

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