Customers of a PNB branch in Greater Noida say their savings and fixed deposits were emptied without a single SMS. If you spot money missing from bank account statements, RBI rules say you may owe nothing at all, but the clock matters: report it within three working days of the bank’s alert, in writing, and get a complaint number.
Honestly, the scarier part is how long it went unnoticed. Most of us never check our FDs or read our statements, so a theft can sit unnoticed for months. Section 3 is a ten-minute check you can do tonight.
⚡ Key takeaways
- If the fault is the bank’s (including its own staff), RBI’s 2017 rules say your liability is zero, even if you report late.
- For third-party fraud, report within 3 working days of the bank’s alert for zero liability. From 4 to 7 days, your loss is capped (₹10,000 for most savings accounts).
- The bank must put the money back provisionally within 10 working days of your report and settle the complaint within 90 days.
- SMS alerts are mandatory under RBI rules. No SMS for a big debit is itself something to put in your complaint.
- Skip panic-switching banks. Do check your FDs, statements and registered mobile number this week.
What Happened at the PNB Branch in Greater Noida
On 29 October 2026, PTI reported that account holders of Punjab National Bank in Greater Noida allege nearly ₹35 crore went missing from savings accounts and fixed deposits. A farmer, Vijendra Singh, told reporters his balance fell from about ₹87–88 lakh to ₹1 lakh. Another customer, Haneef Khan, said his account had ₹39 lakh and now shows nothing, and that he neither got a message nor signed any document, according to The Tribune.
The Daily Pioneer reports that 18 customers have filed written complaints and some say FDs were closed before maturity without consent. Five employees, including the branch manager, were suspended, and Beta-2 police registered an FIR against bank staff. The bank says it will address the grievances.
One caution: the ₹35 crore figure comes from customers. Neither PNB nor the police had confirmed it as of 29 October, and how the money moved hasn’t been established.
Your Rights: RBI’s Zero-Liability Rules, in Plain Words
RBI’s circular of 6 July 2017 on limiting customer liability is the rulebook here. It covers unauthorised electronic banking transactions at commercial banks, small finance banks and payments banks. Three situations matter.
When the bank is at fault
If the loss comes from “contributory fraud/negligence/deficiency” on the bank’s side, your liability is zero. That holds whether or not you reported it quickly. A fraud involving the bank’s own employees falls on the bank’s side of this line.
When a third party did it
If someone outside the bank and outside your control did it (a hacked system, a skimmed card), timing decides:
| When you report (from the bank’s alert) | Your maximum loss |
|---|---|
| Within 3 working days | Zero |
| 4 to 7 working days | Lower of the transaction amount or the cap: ₹5,000 (basic savings), ₹10,000 (most savings accounts, cards up to ₹5 lakh limit), ₹25,000 (other current accounts, cards above ₹5 lakh) |
| After 7 working days | As per your bank’s Board-approved policy |
When you shared your OTP or PIN
If the loss happened because you shared credentials, you bear the loss until you report it. Everything after your report is the bank’s problem. Either way, RBI puts the burden of proving your liability on the bank, not on you.
💡 Pro tip
The 3-day clock starts from “receiving the communication from the bank”, meaning the alert. If you never got an SMS, say so in writing in your complaint. Under the same circular, banks must make SMS alerts mandatory for electronic transactions.
Also readDigital Arrest Scam: How It Works and the 3 Steps That Stop It
The 10-Minute Account Check to Do Tonight
The Greater Noida customers say they found out only when they walked into the branch. Don’t wait for that. Most money missing from bank account cases are spotted by the customer, not the bank. Here’s what to check, in your bank app or net banking:
- Registered mobile number and email. Make sure they’re yours and current. An old number means alerts go nowhere.
- Last three months of transactions. Look for transfers you don’t recognise, even small ones. Fraudsters often test with ₹1 or ₹10 first.
- Fixed deposits. Check every FD’s number, amount and maturity date. An FD closed early that you never touched is a red flag.
- Nominee and address. Unexpected changes here can come before a fraud.
- Linked UPI apps and devices. In your bank app, see which phones are registered. Remove any you don’t use.
- Email statements. Turn on the monthly e-statement. It’s a second record outside the bank’s app.
If you have older parents with big FDs, do this for them too. They’re the ones least likely to read an SMS, and the most likely to keep large balances in one branch.
The Catch: Why Speed Matters More Than Anger
Most people call the branch, argue, and go home. A phone call to a branch manager leaves no record.
⚠️ Watch out
Report in writing and get a complaint number. RBI says every report must get an immediate acknowledgement with a complaint number. Without it, proving when you reported becomes your word against the bank’s.
Use at least two channels: the bank’s 24×7 helpline or app, plus a written complaint at the branch, and keep a stamped copy. Email works as a timestamped record too. Banks must offer 24×7 reporting through website, phone banking, SMS, email, IVR, a toll-free helpline and the home branch.
If the money went out through UPI or cards because of a scam call, also report it on the national cybercrime helpline 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in as quickly as you can.
Money Missing From Bank Account? Step-by-Step Fix
- Block first. Freeze debit cards, UPI and net banking from the app or helpline.
- Report to the bank in writing. List each transaction: date, amount and reference number. Note that you got no SMS if that’s true.
- Get the complaint number and the name of the official who received it.
- Report to 1930 / cybercrime.gov.in if the fraud came through a call, link or app.
- File a police complaint if the amount is large or bank staff may be involved, as in the Greater Noida case.
- Track the 10-day credit. RBI says the bank must provisionally credit the amount (a “shadow reversal”) within 10 working days of your report, value-dated to the transaction date.
- Escalate if it drags. RBI’s limit for resolving the complaint is 90 days. If the bank doesn’t resolve it or you’re unhappy with the reply, file on RBI’s complaint portal or call 14448.
Also readIs My Phone Hacked? 9 Checks for Android and iPhone Users
Our Take: Should You Move Your Money?
✅ Our verdict
Don’t panic-close accounts over one branch’s alleged fraud. Your protection comes from RBI rules, not from the bank’s name. What actually protects you: alerts on a number you use, a monthly look at statements and FDs, and reporting anything odd in writing within three working days.
A few habits help. Spread big FDs across two banks so one problem doesn’t freeze everything. Use net banking to open FDs, so you get an electronic record. And if a branch staffer offers to “handle your FDs” by keeping your signed blank forms or cheques, say no.
For OTP and call-based fraud, our guide to stopping spam calls and the SBI data-breach checklist cover the next steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
What to do if I find money missing from bank account?
Block your cards and UPI, then report it to the bank in writing and get a complaint number. If it came through a scam, also report it on 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in. Do it within three working days of the alert for full protection under RBI rules.
Will the bank refund money taken by its own employee?
Under RBI’s 2017 rules, if the loss comes from fraud, negligence or deficiency on the bank’s side, the customer’s liability is zero, even if reported late. The bank must also prove any liability it claims is yours.
How long does the bank take to return the money?
RBI requires a provisional credit within 10 working days of your report. The complaint must be resolved within 90 days of the bank receiving it.
I didn’t get any SMS. Is that the bank’s fault?
RBI requires banks to make SMS alerts mandatory for electronic transactions. Missing alerts are worth stating clearly in your written complaint, along with proof that your registered number is correct.
Where do I complain if the bank doesn’t help?
Use RBI’s Integrated Ombudsman complaint portal at cms.rbi.org.in, or call RBI’s contact centre on 14448.
The Bottom Line
The Greater Noida case is still being investigated, and the numbers are allegations for now. Your rights aren’t in doubt, though: report in writing, get a complaint number, and do it fast. Open your bank app tonight and check your FDs and registered mobile number.
Keep reading
Read nextDigital Arrest Scam: How It Works and the 3 Steps That Stop It
Read nextStop Spam Calls in India: DND, 1909 and the Settings That WorkSources
- The Tribune / PTI: ₹35 crore PNB fraud allegations in Greater Noida (29 Oct 2026)
- Daily Pioneer: 18 complaints, five employees suspended, FIR at Beta-2 (29 Oct 2026)
- RBI circular, 6 July 2017: Limiting liability of customers in unauthorised electronic banking transactions
- RBI Integrated Ombudsman Scheme complaint portal (14448)
- National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (1930)