PNB Partners with Digital India BHASHINI to Launch Multilingual AI Banking Services Across India

New Delhi | July 16, 2026 : Punjab National Bank (PNB), one of India’s largest public sector banks, has entered into a strategic partnership with the Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) to make digital banking more accessible in multiple Indian languages. The two organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on July 16, 2026, at PNB’s Corporate Office in Dwarka, New Delhi.

The PNB Digital India BHASHINI Partnership will integrate BHASHINI’s advanced multilingual Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities into PNB’s digital banking platforms. As a result, customers will be able to access banking services using both voice and text in their preferred Indian language. The initiative supports the Government of India’s vision of inclusive digital transformation and language accessibility.

What Is the PNB Digital India BHASHINI Partnership?

The PNB Digital India BHASHINI Partnership is a collaboration between Punjab National Bank and the Digital India BHASHINI Division to bring multilingual AI-powered banking services to millions of customers across India.

Under the agreement, PNB will integrate BHASHINI’s language AI technologies into its digital ecosystem. Consequently, users will enjoy seamless banking services without language barriers.

The MoU was signed in the presence of:

• Shri M. Paramasivam, Executive Director, Punjab National Bank
• Shri Amitabh Nag, CEO, Digital India BHASHINI Division
• Shri Atish Kumar Rout, Chief General Manager (Digital), Digital Banking Transformation Division, PNB

What Is BHASHINI?

BHASHINI is the Government of India’s language AI platform developed under the Digital India Mission. It aims to make digital services available in multiple Indian languages using Artificial Intelligence.

The platform supports:

• Voice-based communication
• Text translation
• Speech recognition
• AI-powered language processing
• Real-time multilingual interactions

By integrating these technologies into banking, financial institutions can offer services to customers regardless of their preferred language.

How Customers Will Benefit

The partnership is expected to significantly improve customer experience.

Customers will soon be able to:

• Access banking services in multiple Indian languages.
• Interact through voice as well as text.
• Use digital banking more easily without language barriers.
• Enjoy a faster and more inclusive banking experience.

This initiative is especially important for customers living in rural and semi-urban areas where regional languages remain the primary mode of communication.

PNB’s Vision for Inclusive Digital Banking

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Shri M. Paramasivam, Executive Director of PNB, said the partnership demonstrates how Digital Public Infrastructure can accelerate inclusive digital transformation.

He emphasized that combining multilingual AI with banking services will help bridge language gaps and make digital banking more accessible, equitable, and citizen-friendly across India.

The collaboration also aligns with PNB’s long-term strategy of using technology to improve customer service while expanding financial inclusion.

BHASHINI’s Goal of Voice-First Banking

According to Shri Amitabh Nag, CEO of the Digital India BHASHINI Division, language should never prevent citizens from accessing essential banking services.

He explained that the partnership advances BHASHINI’s vision of building a voice-first multilingual banking ecosystem where AI-powered language technologies make financial services simple, intuitive, and inclusive.

This approach can improve digital adoption among first-time users and customers who are more comfortable using their native languages.

PNB to Strengthen Customer-Centric Digital Banking

Shri Atish Kumar Rout, Chief General Manager (Digital), Digital Banking Transformation Division, PNB, said the bank remains committed to providing secure, accessible, and customer-focused digital banking services.

He added that integrating multilingual AI technologies into PNB’s digital platforms will make banking easier for customers from diverse linguistic backgrounds while enhancing the overall user experience.

Why This Partnership Matters

India has hundreds of spoken languages and dozens of officially recognized regional languages. While digital banking has grown rapidly, language barriers continue to affect millions of users.

The PNB Digital India BHASHINI Partnership addresses this challenge by making banking services more inclusive.

Moreover, voice-enabled AI banking can help:

• Improve financial inclusion.
• Increase digital banking adoption.
• Reduce language-related barriers.
• Enhance customer satisfaction.
• Support Digital India’s inclusive governance vision.

Supporting India’s Digital Public Infrastructure

The collaboration reflects the growing role of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in transforming public services.

India has already built globally recognized digital platforms such as:

• Aadhaar
• Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
• DigiLocker
• Account Aggregator Framework
• BHASHINI

The addition of multilingual AI banking further strengthens India’s digital ecosystem and expands access to essential financial services.

AI and Banking: The Next Phase of Digital Transformation

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly changing the banking industry.

Banks are increasingly using AI for:

Customer Support

AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants provide instant responses to customer queries.

Fraud Detection

AI systems help identify suspicious transactions and strengthen cybersecurity.

Personalized Banking

Banks can offer customized financial products based on customer preferences.

Multilingual Communication

The PNB Digital India BHASHINI Partnership now brings multilingual AI to the forefront, making banking services accessible to a wider population.

Strengthening Financial Inclusion Across India

Financial inclusion remains a major priority for both the Government of India and public sector banks.

Through multilingual AI-powered services, customers who previously faced language challenges can now participate more actively in digital banking.

This initiative is expected to encourage greater use of online banking, digital payments, and financial services across rural and underserved communities.

PNB’s Digital Transformation Journey

Punjab National Bank has consistently invested in digital innovation through mobile banking, internet banking, AI-powered customer service, cybersecurity upgrades, and digital payment solutions.

The integration of BHASHINI represents another milestone in the bank’s digital transformation roadmap.

As India moves toward a more inclusive digital economy, multilingual banking services are expected to play a critical role in improving accessibility and customer engagement.

Key Highlights

The PNB Digital India BHASHINI Partnership marks an important step toward making digital banking more inclusive and user-friendly. By integrating multilingual AI into its digital platforms, Punjab National Bank is helping remove language barriers while expanding access to banking services across India. As Artificial Intelligence and Digital Public Infrastructure continue to evolve, collaborations like this are expected to shape the future of customer-centric banking and strengthen India’s journey toward a truly inclusive digital economy.

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