Punjab National Bank (PNB) paid tributes to the freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai on his 93rd death anniversary. 

Rai played an instrumental role in founding the present-day PNB in 1894 and was the first to open an account with the bank.

Lalaji, fondly remembered as the ‘The Lion of Punjab’ or ‘Punjab Kesari’, was actively associated with the management of the bank in its early years. Under his leadership, PNB became the first 'Swadeshi' bank ever to begin operations, solely on Indian capital – an impressive credential till date.

The founding board was drawn from across India, consisting of different faiths with the common objective of establishing a truly national bank to further the country's economic interest. Today, PNB is the second-largest public sector bank in the country post-merger with erstwhile Oriental Bank of Commerce and erstwhile United Bank of India.

PNB executive directors Vijay Dube, Swarup Kumar Saha and  Kalyan Kumar, along with chief vigilance officer VK Tyagi, general manager Rajeev Kumar, senior executives and staff members paid their  respects to  Rai at the bank's headquarters in New Delhi.