Competition has made banking staff customer-friendly: PNB Chairman

New Delhi, Aug 17 (UNI) Increased competition in the banking sector has made the attitude of bank employees more customer-friendly, Punjab National Bank Chairman and Managing Director S C Gupta said today.

''I admit, employees of banks never used to be friendly with their customers... An attitude problem was there. But after the competition in the banking sector increased, the same staff has transformed,'' the CMD said, at the 100 years celebration of PNB's oldest branch at famous Chandni Chowk here.

He said the competition in banking sector was due to nationalisation of banks, and was the key reason behind of 'attitude' transformation among the banking staff.

''Nationalisation of banks has increased competitiveness in the sector and helped creating customer-friendly environment in public sector banks, which are now giving tough competition to foreign and private sector banks,'' he said.

Established in the year 1895 at Lahore, Pakistan, the PNB has emerged as a front runner among nationalised banks in terms of net profit, asset size, number of branches and implementation of technology.

According to a report, PNB has loan and investment assets of Rs 115,000 crore and a networth of Rs 93,800 crore at the end of Q1 FY07.

The bank operates through 3,850 branches across the country.

UNI VJ PV PC1941