Punjab National Bank, India’s first Swadeshi Bank, commenced its operations on April 12, 1895 from Lahore, with an authorised capital of Rs 2 lac and working capital of Rs 20,000. The far-sighted visionaries and patriots like Lala Lajpat Rai, Mr. E C Jessawala, Babu Kali Prasono Roy, Lala Harkishan Lal and Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia displayed courage in giving expression to the spirit of nationalism by establishing the first bank purely managed by the Indians with Indian Capital.