To
The Members of Punjab & Sind Bank Report on Audit of the Financial Statements
Opinion
1. We have audited the financial statements of Punjab & Sind Bank (the
Bank), which comprise the Balance Sheet as at 31st March 2023, Profit and Loss
Account and Cash Flow Statement for the year then ended, and notes to financial statements
including a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information
in which are included returns for the year ended on that date of 20 branches and treasury
division audited by us and 693 branches and 44 Offices/ Processing Centers audited by
statutory branch auditors. The branches audited by us and those audited by other auditors
have been selected by the Bank in accordance with the guidelines issued to the Bank by the
Reserve Bank of India. Also included in financial statements are the returns from 824
branches of the bank which have not been subjected to audit. These unaudited branches
account for 12.59 percent of advances, 29.92 percent of deposits, 9.85 percent of interest
income and 25.67 percent of interest expenses.
2. In our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations
given to us, the aforesaid financial statements give the information required by the
Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (the Act) in the manner so required for bank and are in
conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in India and:
a) the Balance Sheet, read with the notes thereon is a full and fair Balance Sheet
containing all the necessary particulars, is properly drawn up so as to exhibit a true and
fair view of the state of affairs of the Bank as at 31st March, 2023;
b) the Profit and Loss Account, read with the notes thereon shows a true balance of Profit;
and
c) the Cash Flow Statement gives a true and fair view of the cash flows for the year
ended on that date.
Basis for Opinion
3. We conducted our audit in accordance with the Standards on Auditing (SAs) issued by
the ICAI. Our responsibilities under those Standards are further described in the
Auditors Responsibilities for the Audit of the standalone Financial Statements section of
our report. We are independent of the Bank in accordance with the Code of Ethics issued by
the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India together with ethical requirements that
are relevant to our audit of the financial statements prepared in accordance with the
accounting principles generally accepted in India, including the Accounting Standards
issued by the ICAI, and provisions of section 29 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and
circulars and guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India ("RBI") from time
to time and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance
with these requirements and the Code of Ethics. We believe that the audit evidence we
have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Emphasis of Matter
4. We draw your attention to:
a) Schedule No. 18 (Note. No.14 (i)) to the accompanying financial statements,
regarding amortization of estimated additional liability on account of revision in family
pension amounting to Rs. 236.84 crore. As stated there in, the bank has charged an amount
of Rs. 47.37 crore to the Profit & Loss account for the current financial year ended
31st March 2023 and the balance unamortized expense of Rs. 142.10 crore has
been carried forward in the Balance Sheet.
b) Schedule No. 18 (Note. No.17) to the accompanying financial statements, regarding
change in methodology of calculations of LCR from 31st March 2023 with the
approval of Board i.e. considering total outstanding deposit balance for wholesale funding
as outflow instead of wholesale deposit having residual maturity of 30 days. Bank had
calculated the LCR for 31st March 2023 using the revised methodology and
arrived LCR at 113.56%. As per management, comparative figures for the change are not
available due to its voluminous & complexity of data involved.
Our opinion is not modified in respect of the matters stated above.
Key Audit Matters
5. Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most
significance in our audit of the financial statements of the current period. These matters
were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in
forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters. We
have determined the matters described below to be the key audit matters to be communicated
in our report:
| Key Audit Matters |
How the matter was addressed in our audit |
| Classification of Advances, Income Recognition, Identification of and provisioning for
non-performing Advances |
We obtained an understanding of the Banks Software, circulars,
guidelines and directives of the RBI and the Banks internal instructions and procedures
in respect of the assets classification and its provisioning. Our audit approach
consisted of testing the design of system for identification of Non-Performing assets to
ensure conformity with the guidelines of the RBI in the matter and test checking identification
and valuation of Non-performing assets. |
| (Refer Schedule 9 to the financial statements) |
|
| The advances are classified as performing and nonperforming advances (NPA) which are
governed by income recognition, asset classification and provisioning (IRAC)
norms and other circulars and directives issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
from time to time. The classification and provisioning are carried
out by the Banks IT Software integrated with its Core Banking Solution (CBS). |
We have reviewed the documentations, operations /
performance and monitoring of the advance accounts, on test check basis of the large and
stressed advances, to ascertain any overdue, unsatisfactory conduct or weakness in
any advance account, to ensure that its classification is in accordance with the
prudential norms of RBI, in respect of the branches audited by us. In respect of the
branches, |
| The provisioning for identified NPAs is based on ageing and classification of NPAs,
recovery estimates, value of security and is subject to the provisioning norms specified
by RBI. |
audited by the other branch statutory auditors we have placed reliance
on their reports and ensured that changes suggested by the Branch auditors were duly
carried out wherever necessary. |
| In the event of any improper application of the prudential norms/regulatory
requirements or consideration of the incorrect value of the security, the carrying value
of the advances could be materially misstated either individually or collectively and in
view of the significance of the amount of advances in the financial statements, the
classification of the advances and provisioning thereon has been considered as Key Audit
Matter in our audit. |
We have reviewed on test check basis the reports of the credit audit,
inspection audit, internal audit, concurrent audit, regulatory audit to ascertain the
advances having any adverse features / comments and reviewed the reports generated from
the banks system. |
|
We reviewed advances including stressed advances on a sample basis with
respect to compliance with the RBI Master Circulars / Guidelines/ Judicial pronouncements.
Necessary changes were carried out wherever required during the course of
audit and the effect of same was duly accounted for in the Financial statements for the
year ended 31st March, 2023. |
| Classification and valuation of Investments identification and
provisioning for Non-Performing Investments. |
Our Audit approach towards Investments with reference to the RBI
circulars/directives included the review and testing of the design, operating
effectiveness of internal controls and substantive audit procedures in relation to
valuation, classification, identification of Non-Performing Investments, provisioning /
depreciation related to Investments. |
| (Refer Schedule 8 to the financial statements) |
|
| Investment portfolio of the bank comprises of Investments in Government Securities,
Bonds, Debentures, Shares, Security Receipts and other Approved Securities which are
classified under three categories, Held to Maturity, Available for Sale and Held for
trade. |
We evaluated and understood the system and internal control as laid down
by the Bank to comply with relevant RBI guidelines. |
| Valuation of investments, identification of NonPerforming Investments (NPI) and the
corresponding non-recognition of income and provision thereon, is carried out in
accordance with the relevant circulars / guidelines / directions of RBI. |
We assessed and evaluated the process of identification of NPIs, and
corresponding reversal of unrealized income and creation of provision. |
| Considering judgement involved in the valuation, volume of transactions, investments
on hand, regulatory requirements and significance of the amount of investments in the
Financial statement, we have identified this as a key audit matter for the current year
audit. |
We carried out substantive audit procedures to recompute independently
the provision to be maintained and depreciation to be provided in accordance with the
circulars and directives of the RBI. Accordingly, we selected samples from the investments
of each category and tested for NPIs as per the RBI guidelines and recomputed the
provision to be maintained in accordance with the RBI Circular for those selected sample
of NPIs; . |
|
Necessary changes were carried out wherever required during the course
of audit and the effect of same was duly accounted for in the Financial statements for the
year ended 31st March, 2023 |
| Assessment of Information Technology (IT) |
|
| The IT environment of the bank is complex and involves a large number of independent
and inter-dependent IT systems used in the operations of the Bank for processing and
recording a large volume of transactions at various locations. |
We evaluated and understood the CBS system adopted by the Bank. We
assessed the operative effectiveness of key automated controls within various business
processes. This includes testing the integrity of system interfaces, the completeness and
accuracy of data, system reconciliation controls and automated calculations. |
| As a result, there is high degree of reliance and dependency on such IT systems for
the financial reporting process of the bank. Appropriate IT general controls and
application controls are required to ensure that such IT systems are able to process the
data as required, completely accurately and consistently for reliable financial reporting. |
We assessed the feeding of the data in the system and going through the
extraction of the financial information and statements from the IT system existing in the
bank. |
| IT controls with respect to recording of transactions, generating various reports in
compliance with RBI guidelines/directions is dependent on working of Core Banking System
in the Bank. Therefore, any validation failures, incorrect input data and wrong extraction
of data may result in wrong reporting of data to the management and regulators. |
Reviewed the output and reports generated by the system on sample basis. |
| The Bank accounts for all the transactions related to Advances in its Information
Technology System (IT System) viz. Core Banking Solution (CBS) which identifies whether
the advances are performing or non-performing and calculation of provisions thereon. |
Where deficiencies were identified, we tested compensating controls or
performed alternate procedures. |
| Due to the importance of the impact of the IT systems and related control environment
on the Banks financial reporting process, we have identified testing of such IT systems
and related control environment as a key matter for the current year audit. |
The system needs to be further strengthened for its efficacy to control
deficiencies of input/output data from the system. |
| Contingent Liabilities and Claims |
|
| Contingent Liability is a possible obligation, outcome of which is contingent upon
occurrence or non-occurrence of one or more uncertain future events. In the judgement of
the management, such claims and litigations including tax demands against the bank would
not eventually lead to a liability. |
We have relied upon the management note and legal
opinions obtained by the bank regarding the claims and tax litigations and involved our
internal team to review the nature of such litigations and claims, their current status,
sustainability, examining recent orders and/or communication received from various tax
authorities/judicial forums and follow up actions thereon and likelihood of
claims/litigations materializing into eventual liability upon final resolution, from the
available records and developments to date. |
| However, unexpected adverse outcomes may significantly impact the Banks reported
financial results which is uncertain/unascertainable at this stage. |
| Considering the uncertainty relating to the outcome of these matters which requires
application of judgment in interpretation of law this has been determined as a key Audit
Matter |
6. Information Other than the Financial Statements and Auditors Report thereon
The Banks Board of Directors is responsible for the other information. The other
information comprises the Corporate Governance Report (but does not include the financial
statements and our auditors report thereon), which we obtained prior to the date of this
Auditors Report and Directors Report, Business Responsibility & Sustainability
Report including annexures, if any, thereon, which is expected to be made available to us
after that date.
Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and Pillar
3 disclosure under Basel III and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion
thereon.
In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read
the other information identified above and, in doing so, consider whether the other
information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge
obtained in the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated.
If, based on the work we have performed on the other information that we obtained prior
to the date of this auditors report, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of
this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in
this regard.
Responsibilities of Management and Those Charged with Governance for the Financial
Statements
7. The Banks Board of Directors is responsible with respect to the preparation of
these financial statements that give a true and fair view of the financial position,
financial performance and cash flows of the Bank in accordance with the accounting
principles generally accepted in India, including the applicable Accounting Standards
issued by ICAI, and provisions of Section 29 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and
circulars and guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) from time to time.
This responsibility also includes maintenance of adequate accounting records in accordance
with the provisions of the Act for safeguarding of the assets of the Bank and for
preventing and detecting frauds and other irregularities; selection and application of
appropriate accounting policies; making judgments and estimates that are reasonable and
prudent; and design, implementation and maintenance of adequate internal financial
controls, that were operating effectively for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of
the accounting records, relevant to the preparation and presentation of the financial
statements that give a true and fair view and are free from material misstatement, whether
due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, management is responsible for assessing the
Banks ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related
to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless management either
intends to liquidate the Bank or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but
to do so.
Auditors Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements
8. Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error,
and to issue an auditors report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high
level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with SAs
will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from
fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they
could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the
basis of these financial statements.
As part of an audit in accordance with SAs, we exercise professional judgment and
maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit. We also:
• Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial
statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive
to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a
basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from
fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion,
forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.
• Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to
design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances.
• Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness
of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by management.
• Conclude on the appropriateness of managements use of the going concern basis
of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty
exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the banks
ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists,
we are required to draw attention in our auditors report to the related disclosures in
the financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion.
Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditors
report. However, future events or conditions may cause the bank to cease to continue as a
going concern.
• Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial
statements, including the disclosures, and whether the financial statements represent the
underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.
Materiality is the magnitude of the misstatement in the financial statement that,
individually or in aggregate, makes it probable that the economic decisions of a
reasonably knowledgeable user of the financial statement may be influenced. We consider
quantitative materiality and qualitative factors in: (i) planning the scope of our audit
work and evaluating the results of our work: and (ii) to evaluate the effects of any
identified misstatements in the financial statement.
We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the
planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any
significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.
We also provide those charged with governance with a statement that we have complied
with relevant ethical requirements regarding independence, and to communicate with them
all relationships and other matters that may reasonably be thought to bear on our
independence, and where applicable, related safeguards.
From the matters communicated with those charged with governance, we determine those
matters that were of most significance in the audit of the financial statements of the
current period and are therefore the key audit matters. We describe these matters in our
auditors report unless law or regulation precludes public disclosure about the matter or
when, in extremely rare circumstances, we determine that a matter should not be
communicated in our report because the adverse consequences of doing so would reasonably
be expected to outweigh the public interest benefits of such communication.
Other Matters
9. We did not audit the financial statements / information of 693 branches and 44
offices / Processing Centers included in the
financial statements of the Bank whose financial statements / financial information
reflect total asset of Rs. 27,408.86 Crore
as at 31st March 2023 and total revenue of Rs. 556.58 Crores for the year
ended on that date, as considered in the financial statements. The financial statements /
information of these branches has been audited by the statutory branch auditors whose
reports have been furnished to us, and in our opinion in so far as it relates to the
amounts and disclosures included in respect of branches, is based solely on the report of
such branch auditors.
Our opinion is not modified in respect of this matter.
Report on Other Legal and Regulatory Requirements
10. The Balance Sheet and the Profit and Loss Account have been drawn up in accordance
with Section 29 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949;
11. Subject to the limitations of the audit indicated in paragraphs 6 to 9 above and as
required by the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act,
1970/1980, and subject also to the limitations of disclosure required therein, we report
that:
a) We have obtained all the information and explanations which, to the best of our
knowledge and belief, were necessary for the purposes of our audit and have found them to
be satisfactory;
b) The transactions of the Bank, which have come to our notice, have been within the
powers of the Bank; and
c) The returns received from the offices and branches of the Bank have been found
adequate for the purposes of our audit.
12. As required by letter No. DOS.ARG.No.6270/08.91.001/2019- 20 dated March 17, 2020
on "Appointment of Statutory Central Auditors (SCAs) in Public Sector Banks -
Reporting obligations for SCAs from FY 2019-20", read with subsequent communication
dated May 19, 2020 issued by the RBI, we further report on the matters specified in
paragraph 2 of the aforesaid letter as under:
(a) In our opinion, the aforesaid financial statements comply with the applicable
accounting standard, to the extent they are not inconsistent with the accounting policy
prescribed by RBI.
(b) Our audit report on the adequacy and operating effectiveness of the Banks internal
financial controls over financial reporting is given in "Annexure A" to this
report. Our report expresses an unmodified opinion on the Banks internal financial
controls over financial reporting as at 31st March, 2023.
(c) On the basis of the written representation received from the directors as on 31st
March, 2023 and taken on record by the Board of Directors, none of the directors is
disqualified as on 31st March, 2023 from being appointed as a director in term
of sub-section (2) of section 164 of the Companies Act,2013
(d) There are no observations or comments on financial transactions or matters which
have any adverse effect on the functioning of the bank.
(e) There are no qualifications, reservations or adverse remarks relating to the
maintenance of accounts and other matters connected therewith.
13. We further report that:
a) in our opinion, proper books of account as required by law have been kept by the
Bank so far as it appears from our examination of those books and proper returns adequate
for the purposes of our audit have been received from branches not visited by us.
b) the Balance Sheet, the Profit and Loss Account and Cash Flows Statement dealt with
by this report are in agreement with the books of account and with the returns received
from the branches not visited by us;
c) the reports on the accounts of the branch offices audited by statutory branch
auditors of the Bank under section 29 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 have been sent
to us and have been properly dealt with by us in preparing this report; and
(d) In our opinion, the Balance Sheet, Profit and Loss Account and Cash Flows Statement
comply with the applicable accounting standards, to the extent they are not inconsistent
with the accounting policies prescribed by RBI.
ANNEXURE"A"TO THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS REPORT
(Referred to in paragraph 12(a) under Report on Other Legal and Regulatory
Requirements section of our report of even date)
Report on the Internal Financial Controls Over Financial Reporting as required by the
Reserve Bank of India (the "RBI") Letter DOS.ARG.No.6270/08.91.001/2019-20 dated
March 17, 2020 (as amended) (the "RBI communication")
We have audited the internal financial controls over financial reporting of Punjab
& Sind Bank ("the Bank") as of 31st March ,2023 in
conjunction with our audit of the financial statements of the Bank for the year ended on
that date which includes internal financial controls over financial reporting of the
selected bank branches.
Managements Responsibility for Internal Financial Controls
The Banks management is responsible for establishing and maintaining internal
financial controls based on the internal control over financial reporting criteria
established by the Bank considering the essential components of internal control stated in
the Guidance Note on Audit of Internal Financial Controls Over Financial Reporting issued
by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. These responsibilities include the
design, implementation and maintenance of adequate internal financial controls that were
operating effectively for ensuring the orderly and efficient conduct of its business,
including adherence to the Banks policies, the safeguarding of its assets, the prevention
and detection of frauds and errors, the accuracy and completeness of the accounting
records, and the timely preparation of reliable financial information, as required under
the Banking Regulation Act,1949 and the circulars and guidelines issued by the Reserve
Bank of India.
Auditors Responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Banks internal financial controls
over financial reporting based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with the
Guidance Note on Audit of Internal Financial Controls Over Financial Reporting (the
"Guidance Note") issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (the
"ICAI") and the Standards on Auditing (SAs) issued by the ICAI, to the extent
applicable to an audit of internal financial controls. Those Standards and the Guidance
Note require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether adequate internal financial controls over
financial reporting were established and maintained and if such controls operated
effectively in all material respects.
Our audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the adequacy of
the internal financial controls over financial reporting and their operating
effectiveness. Our audit of internal financial controls over financial reporting included
obtaining an understanding of internal financial controls over financial reporting,
assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design
and operating effectiveness of internal financial controls based on the assessed risk. The
procedures selected depend on the auditors judgment, including the assessment of the
risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained and the audit evidence obtained by
the branch auditors, in terms of their reports referred to in the Other Matters paragraph
below, is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion on the
Banks internal financial controls over financial reporting.
Meaning of Internal Financial Controls Over Financial Reporting
A Banks internal financial controls over financial reporting is a process designed to
provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the
preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles. A Banks internal financial controls over financial
reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of
records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and
dispositions of the assets of the Bank; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions
are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures
of the Bank are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and
directors of the Bank; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely
detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Banks assets that could
have a material effect on the financial statements.
Inherent Limitations of Internal Financial Controls Over Financial Reporting
Because of the inherent limitations of internal financial controls over financial
reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of
controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
Also, projections of any evaluation of the internal financial controls over financial
reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the internal financial controls
over financial reporting may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that
the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Opinion
In our opinion, and to the best of our information and according to the explanations
given to us and based on the consideration of the reports of the branch auditors referred
to in the Other Matters paragraph below, the Bank has generally, in all material respects,
adequate internal financial controls over financial reporting and such internal financial
controls over financial reporting were operating effectively as at 31st
March,2023, based on the criteria for internal control over financial reporting
established by the Bank considering the essential components of internal control stated in
the Guidance Note on Audit of Internal Financial Controls Over Financial Reporting issued
by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
Other Matters
Our aforesaid report in so far as it relates to the operating effectiveness of internal
financial controls over financial reporting of 55 branches is based on the corresponding
reports of the respective branch auditors of those branches.
Our opinion is not modified in respect of this matter.
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