PNB Minimum Balance – Charges, Account Types & Smart Tips

Raj worked at a bookshop in his village. After many weeks, he saved ₹500 from his salary. Raj had a dream — he wanted to open a bank account. One morning, his father said, “Beta, paisa bank mein rakhna chahiye, wahan safe rehta hai” 

“Son, you should keep money in the bank; it stays safe there.” Raj took the advice seriously. He walked to the nearest PNB branch. He filled out a form and handed ₹500 to the cashier. 

The bank opened a savings account and gave him a passbook. Raj smiled as he looked at the stamp on the first page. His ₹500 was now safely in the bank. His journey of saving had begun.

What is Minimum Balance?

Meena lived in a small town. She opened a savings account with PNB and deposited ₹1,000 into it. She didn’t spend this money. The bank told her to always keep this amount in the account. If the balance dropped below ₹1,000, the bank would charge a penalty. So Meena made sure she didn’t touch the ₹1,000.

The bank called this amount the minimum balance. It’s the minimum amount that must remain in the account to keep it active and avoid penalties. The required balance varies depending on the customer’s location and account type.

To understand this better, let us look at this simple table:
 

Minimum balance is important. It helps the bank run your account and give you services like ATM, mobile banking, a passbook, and more. So, it should always be remembered by people like Meena and Raj.

PNB Minimum Balance by Account Type

Arjun lived in a small village in Himachal. His parents told him to save money. So he saved ₹500 and took it to the nearest Punjab National Bank branch. The manager opened a Rural Savings Account for him. The manager told Arjun that he must always keep ₹500 in his account. That amount was his minimum balance.

But Arjun’s cousin Riya, who lived in a metro city such as Delhi, learned that her minimum balance had to be ₹2,000. She was surprised and said, “Itna farak? Yeh toh cheating hai!” “Such a big difference? That’s cheating!” The bank manager smiled and replied, “No, madam, it depends on your location and the account you choose.”

Like Arjun and Riya, people have varying minimum balance requirements depending on their account type and location.

Here’s a table to show how it works:
 

Note: For Junior, Samman, Rakshak, and Salary accounts, no minimum balance is required. These accounts are made to help students, seniors, women, and salaried workers.

PNB Non‑Maintenance Charges

Sita was a teacher in a big city. One month later, she forgot to check her bank balance. She made many purchases online. When the bank checked, her account had ₹1,000 less than needed. Since she was in a metro city and had to keep ₹2,000, her Quarterly Average Balance (QAB) was found short by more than 50%.

Later, a message was sent by the bank:

“₹250 has been charged due to low balance.”

Sita was shocked. She said, “Yeh toh dard bhari kahani ban gayi.” Her mistake cost her ₹250.

Many people do not know this, but penalty charges are different for Rural, Semi‑Urban, and Urban areas. See the table below:
 

These charges were updated recently by PNB. You can read about them on trusted finance websites like pnbindia.in, cleartax.in, and hindustantimes.com.

What did we learn?
Sita’s story shows why it is important to keep the right balance. Even forgetting once can cost you money.

PNB Savings Account Transaction Limit

Geeta lived in Mumbai. Every month, ₹60,000 was taken out by her to pay rent and buy home items. One day, a question was asked by her to the bank manager, “Sir, kitna paisa nikalne ki limit hoti hai?” The manager smiled and explained the PNB transaction rules.

Many people like Geeta do not know how much they can withdraw, pay or transfer from their PNB savings account. If they go over the free limit, some charges are added by the bank.

Here is a simple table that shows all the main rules:
 

Note: A debit swipe means using your card to pay in shops or online.

How to Open a PNB Savings Account?

Vikram was a college student in Bhopal. He saved ₹2,000 from his pocket money. He wanted to open a bank account so that his scholarship money could be received safely. One morning, he took his Aadhaar card, PAN card and 2 photos. A PNB branch was visited by him.

Here’s how Vikram opened his account, step by step:

1. A form was taken by him from the counter.
    
2. The form was filled with his name, address, and other details.
    
3. His documents were shown to the bank staff.
    
4. His ₹2,000 deposit was handed over with the form.
    
5. The papers were checked and verified by the bank official.
    
6. An account number, a passbook, and a welcome kit were given to Vikram.

After all this, a message was sent to his phone:

"Dear Customer, Your PNB Savings Account has been successfully opened."

Vikram smiled and whispered to himself:
"Apun ka account ab full safe hai!"

Tips to remember:

• Go to the nearest PNB branch.
   
• Carry Aadhaar, PAN, photos and proof of address.
   
• Deposit a minimum balance (as per account type).
   
• Fill the form correctly.
   
• Collect your welcome kit (passbook, debit card).

Documents Needed to Open a PNB Savings Account

Deepa lived in Jaipur. She wanted to open her first savings account in PNB. Her father told her, “Beta, bank ko pehchaan chahiye hoti hai. Documents leke jaana.” So, the next day, her Aadhaar card, PAN card, and passport-size photos were carried by Deepa to the bank.

At the branch, a form was given to her. The documents were photocopied and stamped. Her identity and address were verified by the staff. After that, her account was opened.

Here is a list of documents that must be taken:
 

Maximum Balance Allowed

Preeti was a businesswoman in Chandigarh. In one month, a big project payment of ₹10 lakh was received by her. She went to the bank and asked, “Can I keep all this money in my PNB savings account?”

The bank manager replied, “Yes madam. No maximum limit is kept in this account.” Preeti was happy and said,
"Toh fir tension kaisi, paisa toh bank mein safe hai!"

Important to know:

There is no maximum limit in most PNB savings accounts. So whether ₹10,000 or ₹10,00,000 is added, the account will remain active and penalty-free (if minimum balance is maintained).

• Unlimited deposits can be made.
   
• No extra charges for keeping more money.

What If the Balance Is Low?

Amit was a young software engineer. He had an urban PNB savings account. One quarter, his balance went below ₹2,000. He didn’t notice. At the end of the quarter, a message came: “₹100 deducted due to minimum balance shortfall.”

Later, in another month, his balance went below 50% of the required amount. This time, ₹150 was charged by the bank. Amit was sad and said, "Itna toh recharge bhi nahi hota hai, jitna penalty lag gaya!"

Here’s a quick look at what charges apply if you forget to keep your minimum balance:
 

Always keep some extra money in your account. Even a small mistake can lead to penalty deductions every quarter.

How to Check Monthly Average Balance?

Nisha lived in a small town. She liked to track her savings every month. One day, she checked her Monthly Average Balance (MAB) and saw ₹2,500 there. That made her happy.

This helped her avoid charges and keep her account healthy.

Here are the ways Nisha checked her balance:
 

Conclusion

PNB savings account minimum balance was simple and fair. Charges grow if a shortfall occurs. The monthly average balance must be checked. Fees can be avoided by auto top‑ups, zero‑balance accounts. Many benefits like cheques, online banking,g are given. PNB growth news shows bank trust. Account health was kept by simple care.

FAQs

Q1. What is the minimum balance?
Minimum money that must stay in your account.

Q2. What is the PNB Savings account minimum?
Ranges from ₹0 (Basic) to ₹50,000 for Elite. Urban/Metro basic is ₹2,000.

Q3. How much is the penalty?
Ranges ₹50 to ₹250 based on area and shortfall.

Q4. How to avoid fees?
Choose a zero‑balance account or auto top‑up, and daily checks.

Q5. Is the max balance limited?
No limit exists.

Q6. How is the Monthly Average Balance checked?
Via net‑banking, apps, passbook, and SMS.

Q7. What account types are zero balance?
Basic Savings, Junior, Rakshak, Samman, Salary accounts.

Q8. Are there recent updates on the PNB minimum balance?
Yes. Policies were changed, such as the monthly average base. News alert for 2025 showed PNB kept fair slab levels.

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LoansJagat Team

We are a team of writers, editors, and proofreaders with 15+ years of experience in the finance field. We are your personal finance gurus! But, we will explain everything in simplified language. Our aim is to make personal and business finance easier for you. While we help you upgrade your financial knowledge, why don't you read some of our blogs?