Use this page as a one-stop reference for everything related to Punjab National Bank's ARA branch in ARA, BIHAR. The branch's IFSC code PUNB0159920 is the key identifier you need whenever a remitter, employer or biller asks for a bank routing number to send funds to an account held at this branch. We have also included the branch's postal address, telephone number, banking hours, common services, and an extensive FAQ block that should answer almost every question that comes up when you are about to add this branch as a beneficiary in your net-banking app for the first time.
IFSC stands for Indian Financial System Code. It is an 11-character code that pinpoints a particular bank branch on the RBI's real-time payment rails. Every NEFT, RTGS or IMPS instruction must carry the destination branch's IFSC for the credit to land in the correct account.
In our case, PUNB0159920 is the IFSC of Punjab National Bank's ARA branch. The format is fixed: PUNB = bank code, 0 = reserved, 159920 = branch identifier.
Branch details at a glance
| Bank Name | Punjab National Bank |
|---|---|
| Branch | Ara |
| IFSC Code | PUNB0159920 |
| MICR Code | Refer to cheque leaf |
| Branch Address | ARA,BIHAR |
| City | Ara |
| District | Bhojpur |
| State | Bihar |
Bank profile
Punjab National Bank is among the recognised banks listed on the Reserve Bank of India's payments network. The Ara branch — IFSC PUNB0159920 — extends the bank's services to customers in and around Ara, Bihar.
Ara branch overview
Located at ARA,BIHAR, the Ara branch handles regular banking operations such as account opening, fixed and recurring deposits, locker facilities, loans, and trade finance services where applicable. The IFSC PUNB0159920 is required for all interbank electronic transfers routed through this branch.
Why every Punjab National Bank branch has a unique IFSC
Before electronic settlement systems went live in India, money transfers between banks relied heavily on demand drafts, mail transfers and telegraphic transfers. These older instruments routinely took days to clear and were prone to misrouting because there was no single machine-readable identifier for a branch. The Reserve Bank of India solved this by issuing each participating branch — including ARA of Punjab National Bank — its own 11-character IFSC. The code PUNB0159920 is therefore not just an internal reference; it is the digital postcode that lets the RBI's NEFT, RTGS and IMPS rails route funds straight to the right branch ledger without any human intervention.
Today, almost every salary credit, vendor payment, refund and EMI deduction in the country flows through this network, which is exactly why a correct IFSC matters so much. A wrong character can either bounce the transfer or send it to the wrong branch, and reversing such a credit is a manual, time-consuming process. Treat IFSC PUNB0159920 the same way you would treat your account number — verify it once and save it carefully for future use.
How to transfer money using IFSC PUNB0159920
Online transfers in India are powered by three major channels — NEFT, RTGS and IMPS — and each one requires a destination IFSC. Below is a quick guide for using IFSC PUNB0159920 across all three.
How to use IFSC PUNB0159920 for an NEFT transfer
NEFT (National Electronic Funds Transfer) is the most widely used method for sending money to Punjab National Bank's ARA branch. NEFT now settles on a 24x7 basis in half-hourly batches and has no upper limit for retail customers (individual banks may impose their own caps).
- Log in to your internet banking or mobile banking app.
- Choose Add Beneficiary and select NEFT / Other Bank.
- Enter the beneficiary name, account number and the IFSC PUNB0159920.
- Confirm the bank name auto-populates as Punjab National Bank and the branch as ARA.
- Approve the beneficiary using OTP. Once activated, transfer any amount and the credit will reflect in the next NEFT cycle.
RTGS transfers via IFSC PUNB0159920
RTGS (Real-Time Gross Settlement) is the fastest high-value transfer mechanism in India. It is meant for transfers of ₹2 lakh and above and settles each transaction individually and instantly. To remit through RTGS to Punjab National Bank – ARA, ensure your bank's portal accepts IFSC PUNB0159920 while registering the beneficiary. RTGS is also available 24x7.
IMPS to Punjab National Bank ARA (IFSC PUNB0159920)
IMPS (Immediate Payment Service) offers instant, 24x7 fund transfers up to ₹5 lakh per transaction. Provide the beneficiary's account number along with IFSC PUNB0159920 in your mobile or internet banking app, and the money is credited to the ARA branch account within seconds.
NEFT vs RTGS vs IMPS — which one should you use?
All three modes accept the IFSC PUNB0159920 for Punjab National Bank – ARA, but they differ in speed, minimum amount and use case. The table below summarises the differences so you can pick the right channel for the situation at hand.
| Parameter | NEFT | RTGS | IMPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum amount | ₹1 | ₹2,00,000 | ₹1 |
| Maximum amount | No RBI cap | No RBI cap | ₹5,00,000 |
| Settlement | Half-hourly batches | Real-time | Real-time |
| Availability | 24x7 | 24x7 | 24x7 |
| Best for | Routine transfers | High-value transfers | Urgent small / mid transfers |
| IFSC required | Yes – PUNB0159920 | Yes – PUNB0159920 | Yes – PUNB0159920 |
For most retail customers crediting the Ara branch, NEFT or IMPS will be the quickest and most economical option. RTGS comes in for one-off, high-value movements such as property purchases, vendor settlements or large gifts.
How UPI relates to the IFSC code
UPI lets you pay using a short Virtual Payment Address instead of typing the IFSC every time, but behind the scenes every UPI mandate is mapped to an account number plus an IFSC. For accounts at Punjab National Bank's ARA branch, the IFSC PUNB0159920 is what the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) uses to route the credit when you tap Pay on a UPI app.
That is why, even in the UPI era, it is still worth knowing the IFSC of your home branch — for failed UPI mandates, e-mandate set-ups, third-party platform onboarding and salary or refund credits.
Products and account variants supported
Every account opened at the Ara branch is mapped to IFSC PUNB0159920 on the RBI payments network. The branch generally supports the full retail product catalogue of Punjab National Bank, including:
- Resident savings accounts and salary accounts
- Current accounts for businesses and professionals
- Fixed deposits, recurring deposits and tax-saver deposits
- Demand drafts, banker's cheques and pay orders
- Retail loans — personal, vehicle, education, gold and home
- Credit cards and overdraft facilities (subject to eligibility)
- Third-party investment products such as mutual funds and insurance (through tie-ups)
Whichever product you choose, the IFSC for incoming credits remains PUNB0159920.
Banking services available
The Ara branch typically offers the following services. Specific products may vary by branch size; please confirm with the branch on the branch contact number.
- Savings, current and salary accounts
- Fixed deposits and recurring deposits
- Personal, vehicle and home loans
- Demat and investment products (where supported)
- Internet banking and mobile banking enrolment
- Debit and credit card issuance
- Locker facilities (subject to availability)
- Foreign exchange services (at authorised branches)
- Bill payments, demand drafts and pay orders
- NEFT / RTGS / IMPS / UPI fund transfers using IFSC PUNB0159920
MICR code & cheque clearing
Apart from IFSC, every cheque book issued by Punjab National Bank carries a 9-digit MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) code that is read by cheque-sorting machines. The MICR code, the IFSC PUNB0159920 and the account number together uniquely identify the Ara branch and your account. The MICR for this branch is printed at the bottom of your cheque leaves.
Digital banking channels
Most day-to-day work that customers used to do at the Ara branch counter can now be completed digitally — adding a beneficiary, transferring funds, applying for a fixed deposit, raising a service request or downloading account statements. The IFSC PUNB0159920 is the link between the digital channel and the branch ledger; once a transaction is confirmed, the credit or debit is reflected in the same core banking system that the branch officers see.
Things to verify before sending money
Banking errors are usually small typos that snowball into delayed credits and customer-care follow-ups. Use this short checklist before you confirm any transfer to Punjab National Bank – ARA:
- The IFSC is exactly PUNB0159920 with no extra spaces.
- The beneficiary's account number matches what they shared, digit for digit.
- The portal auto-fills Punjab National Bank as the bank name and ARA as the branch.
- The amount and the purpose of payment are correct.
- You have a valid OTP-verifying mobile number on hand.
A 30-second review here saves hours of reconciliation later.
How to reach the Ara branch
The branch is located at ARA,BIHAR, which puts it inside Ara, the broader Bhojpur district, and the state of Bihar. To plan your visit:
- Open Google Maps on your phone and search for “Punjab National Bank Ara branch” — the verified location pin for IFSC PUNB0159920 should appear at the top of the results.
- Confirm the branch is open by calling the branch contact number before stepping out, especially around public holidays.
- Carry photo ID and any account-related documents you may need for the transaction you plan to do.
Most banking work — passbook updates, fund transfers, statement downloads — can also be completed online without visiting the branch in person, as long as you know the IFSC PUNB0159920 and your account number.
Verifying IFSC PUNB0159920 from official sources
The IFSC listed on this page is sourced from the RBI's master list and validated against the bank's branch directory. To double-check before transferring large sums, you can also confirm PUNB0159920 by:
- Looking at the cheque leaf – IFSC is printed near the MICR band.
- Opening the passbook's first page.
- Calling the branch directly on the branch contact number.
- Visiting the bank's official branch locator page.
Branch banking hours and holidays
Indian bank branches typically operate from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday to Friday, and from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM on working Saturdays (usually the 1st, 3rd and 5th Saturdays). The Ara branch is closed on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays, all Sundays and on national or regional bank holidays. Online channels using IFSC PUNB0159920, however, work 24x7.
Branch address & contact
Punjab National BankAra Branch
ARA,BIHAR
Ara, Bihar
Phone: the branch contact number
IFSC: PUNB0159920
Frequently asked questions
How quickly will an NEFT transfer using PUNB0159920 be credited?
NEFT settles in half-hourly batches around the clock. Most transfers to Punjab National Bank – Ara reflect within 30 minutes.
What is the phone number of Punjab National Bank Ara branch?
You can reach the branch at the branch contact number during regular banking hours.
Is IFSC PUNB0159920 the same for all accounts at Ara branch?
Yes. The IFSC PUNB0159920 is shared by every account held at Punjab National Bank's Ara branch. Only the account number changes from customer to customer.
How do I add Punjab National Bank Ara as a beneficiary?
Log in to your internet or mobile banking app, go to Add Beneficiary, enter the account number and IFSC PUNB0159920, and complete OTP verification. Once activated, you can transfer funds at any time.
Where is Punjab National Bank Ara branch located?
Punjab National Bank's Ara branch is located at ARA,BIHAR, Ara, Bihar.
What is the IFSC code of Punjab National Bank Ara branch?
The IFSC code of Punjab National Bank, Ara branch is PUNB0159920. It is used for NEFT, RTGS and IMPS fund transfers to this branch.
Does Punjab National Bank Ara branch offer locker facilities?
Locker availability depends on branch size and customer demand. Please contact the branch on the branch contact number to confirm.
Is IFSC PUNB0159920 valid for NEFT and RTGS?
Yes. IFSC PUNB0159920 is valid for all RBI-supported electronic transfer channels including NEFT, RTGS and IMPS.
Summary
The IFSC code PUNB0159920 belongs to Punjab National Bank's ARA branch, located at ARA,BIHAR in ARA, BIHAR. Use this code along with the beneficiary's account number for any NEFT, RTGS or IMPS transfer to this branch. Bookmark this page for quick reference whenever you need the branch's banking details.
