Punjab National Bank has had a clearer, more traceable ambassador history, it’s mostly cricket-driven.
History
- 2016 — Virat Kohli: PNB signed Virat Kohli, then India’s Test captain, as brand ambassador. The timing was notable — it came as the bank was dealing with a sharp rise in bad loans and a steep profit decline, and PNB framed Kohli’s “determination, focus, and habit of winning” as qualities meant to help rebuild the bank’s image. Kohli had been a PNB account holder since age 16.
- December 2025 — Harmanpreet Kaur: PNB named Harmanpreet Kaur, captain of the Indian women’s cricket team and a World Cup–winning captain, as its first-ever female brand ambassador. The announcement came at a “Banking On Champions” event in New Delhi, attended by PNB’s MD & CEO Ashok Chandra and Department of Financial Services Secretary M. Nagaraju. Kaur, too, has banked with PNB since she was 18, with her first account opened at the PNB Moga branch.
- Kaur went on to be conferred the Padma Shri, which PNB publicly congratulated her for as its brand ambassador.
Ambassador Portfolio — what the role involves
- Kaur’s first official act was unveiling four PNB products alongside senior leadership: the PNB RuPay Metal Credit Card Luxura, PNB One 2.0 (digital banking platform), Digi Surya Ghar (a solar-solutions initiative), and PNB’s onboarding onto the IIBX Portal for online gold/bullion trading.
- The launch event also included a youth-outreach element — 10 young female cricketers were invited and given PNB-branded cricket kits signed by Kaur, tying the ambassadorship to women’s-empowerment and youth-engagement messaging.
- Broadly, both appointments (Kohli, then Kaur) have been used to modernize PNB’s brand image, appeal to younger and — with Kaur — specifically female customers, and support major product launches.
Overview
| Virat Kohli | Harmanpreet Kaur | |
|---|---|---|
| Appointed | Sept 2016 | Dec 2025 |
| Role | First major celebrity ambassador | First-ever female brand ambassador |
| Background | Then-India Test captain | India women’s cricket captain, World Cup champion |
| Context | Bank battling rising NPAs | Part of PNB’s brand transformation drive |
FAQ
Who is PNB’s current brand ambassador?
Harmanpreet Kaur, appointed December 2025.
Who was PNB’s ambassador before her?
Virat Kohli, signed in 2016.
Is Kaur PNB’s first female ambassador?
Yes — PNB has stated this is the first time a woman has held the role.
What products has Kaur been associated with launching?
The PNB RuPay Metal Credit Card Luxura, PNB One 2.0, Digi Surya Ghar, and PNB’s IIBX onboarding.
Has Kaur received any honors while serving as ambassador?
Yes, she was conferred the Padma Shri, which PNB publicly acknowledged.
