Punjab National Bank, the country's second largest state-owned bank, on Saturday revealed its plans to hire 1,000 professionals during the current fiscal.

However the lender said that, there would be no recruitment at the entry level, as the bank has sufficient staff at that level.

The bank's employee strength currently stands at about 58,000.

Apart from latest development, the bank also intends to expand its branch network by 10 percent in 2009-10. Presently, it has 4,600 branches across the country.

In a separate release, Punjab National Bank has informed that it will set up 1 lakh kiosks in unbanked villages by 2013 under its project - Namaskar.

According to the lender, each "touch points" would have four BCs (business correspondent) and would be provided with CBS (core banking solution) terminal, information and internet.

The scrip of PNB closed on Friday at Rs 671, up 1% compared to its previous close. The counter had made 52-week-high and low of Rs 717 and Rs 286 respectively.