Subhechcha Ganguly 
A distinguished banker with a virtuosic career trajectory, Shri A Udaya Bhaskar Reddy assumed the charge as Zonal Manager of the Bhubaneswar Zone on May 2, 2022 at the venerated Punjab National Bank. It is pertinent to note that before embarking upon this prestigious assignment, he was posted in CO Vijayawada, Andhra Zone as Circle Head.
Shri Reddy, who was born in the year 1964, pursued his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the hallowed precincts of Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University, Hyderabad, following which he commenced his illustrious journey in Punjab National Bank in the year 1988 as an Agriculture officer. He is also the proud recipient of several coveted certificates, including the NSDL-Depository Operations Module and Certified Courses of Indian Institute of Bankers, and has undergone numerous trainings on Retail Banking, Marketing, Credit Management, NPA Management, Depository Services, and other such domains. In his illustrious career spanning over 35 years, he has excelled in virtually all areas of banking, Circle Head, Chief Concurrent Auditor, and Branch Banking, among others. He has gained rich expertise and vast experience in the Bank, especially as Circle Head Vijayawada. During his tenure as the Zonal Manager of Bhubaneswar zone, the zone experienced a resounding success in the field of core business as well as ancillary business. Under his visionary leadership, the growth trajectory gathered immense momentum, with the business growth of the zone surging by nearly 2500 crores, i.e., 7% Y-O-Y as of today. The zone achieved tremendous growth in Credit, with a growth rate of over 10% YOY, which resulted in the achievement of the budgets of Credit in recent quarters of FY’23. The distinguished Shri Reddy’s outstanding contribution towards the business excellence of PNB in Vijayawada Circle under his able leadership has also won him the prestigious ED Club Membership Award by the Bank. His visionary outlook has been to expedite the growth momentum of the Bank in the state, particularly in the domains of Retail, Agriculture & MSME, and popularization of digital banking facilities, with the aim of making PNB the preferred destination for the Gen-next customer. His dream of making PNB a household brand in every nook and corner of Odisha is indeed laudable.
He has proved to be an inspiring leader and a master in the art of man-management with an assertive command and an empathetic heart. His readiness to handle new challenges and his down-to-earth attitude have been a cherished learning experience and a gift for all his colleagues, like us.
Reddy is a highly experienced banker with over two decades of experience in the banking sector. He started his career in the banking industry in 1988 joined as Agriculture Officer at Amritsar and later on worked at Bhopal and in 1990 moved to southern part of India till he joined at Odisha in May 2022. His leadership and guidance led the organization to such heights that it has become one of the most profitable and popular in southern part of India (Karnataka & Andhra Pradesh).
Reddy always focused on providing the best customer service possible. He believed in the importance of customer service and worked hard to ensure that his customers had access to the best banking services available. He knew that the customer is the most important asset and he strived to make sure that their needs were met at all times.
Reddy’s knowledge of the banking industry and experience in the banking sector has made him one of the most respected figures in Punjab National Bank. He is known for his integrity, honesty, and professionalism.
In addition to his work in the banking sector, Reddy is an active member of the Bhubaneswar community. He is involved in several charitable activities, including teaching financial literacy at local schools. He is a strong proponent of literacy and encourages people to pursue financial education.
A U B Reddy is a pillar of the banking industry in Bhubaneswar. His leadership, experience, and dedication to providing quality customer service have made him a role model in the banking sector. He is truly an inspiration to many of us.
This is an exclusive interview with A U B Reddy, Zonal Manager Punjab National Bank, Bhubaneswar
Q1. Honorable FM Smt Nirmala Sitharaman has presented a last full-fledged budget 2023-24 in the run-up to 2024 general election before the country. How do you see it from banker’s perspective?
A fiscally prudent Modi Govt ramps up and give importance to expenditure in key sectors to generate employment, the success will depend upon how the Govt succeeds in implementation
As we all aware that for creation of employment there are two things required in economy
Capex Investment
MSME Support
The 10 lac cr Capex by the central Govt and 3.7 lakh crore grant in and to states will add upto 4.5 % of GDP and this will be a big job creator
Revamped credit guarantee scheme starting from April 23 through infusion of Rs 9000 to the corpus which will enable additional collateral free and Agricultural accelerator fund to be set up for encouraging agri start ups
There will be good demand for credit off take in MSME, Agri and Retail
Q2. Odisha has put all weights to empower lakhs of Self Help Groups economically, PNB bank is also a part of this mission, can you please share some light on this?
Self Help Groups (SHGs) play a significant role in all-round development of the society in general and that of women in particular both socially and economically. In Odisha SHGs have empowered the women to join their hands together in order to face the challenges coming on their way and to overcome their socio-economic issues. They help women to participate in family decision-making, to make them financially strong and to make them capable for leadership positions. It has been found that SHGs have not only empowered the rural women financially and improved the standard of living, but also helped them in changing their societal conditions
In Odisha out of total 6.02 lac SHG financed by banks PNB share is 7.43 % in terms linking to savings and 9.05 % in terms of credit linked. We have increased the limit for SHG finance to 20 lacs per group for economic activities
Q3. You have had a dedicated banking career over three decades. What do you find it as a treasure trove?
I have joined as Agrl Officer in 1988 and worked at various parts of India right from Punjab, MP, Karnataka and AP including rural Areas remote villages
Bank has given opportunity to see the problems of rural people and understand their problems and mingle with them.
Q4. Does the art & culture of Odisha excite you as a person?
Yes I joined Odisha in April 22 and has visited various parts Balasore, Sambalpur, Berhampur
Odisha is a confluence of the Aryan, Dravidian and Adivasi cultures. Most festivals in the state bring out some part of these cultures and celebrate their religion by way of festivals which span out the entire year. There are festivals that are common, but the celebration remains unique to a region. I am really excited to be part of Odisha and living with them.
Q5. What sort of advice you offer to those young generations who aspire to become bankers?
Banking is a profession that offers a huge variety of opportunities, as well as the possibility of rapid career progression, all with good pay and benefits. For those willing to accept the challenge, the rewards can be great. Wide range of job roles—not just in finance! Banking is a diverse and most rewarding industry
