Skip to main content

What is revised branch authorization policy for UCBs?

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has revised the branch authorisation policy for Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs).

What is the basis of revised norms?

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had constituted the Expert Committee on Urban Co-operative Banks on February 15, 2021, under the Chairmanship of Shri N. S. Vishwanathan, former Deputy Governor, RBI. Based on the recommendations of the committee, RBI has revised the regulatory framework for Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) [What is revised regulatory framework for Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs)]?

In December 2022, RBI had revised the norms for classification of UCBs as Financially Sound and Well Managed (FSWM).

What is revised branch authorization policy for UCBs?

  • UCBs in all Tiers (except Salary Earners’ Banks) identified as Financially Sound and Well Managed (FSWM), are permitted to open new branches up to 10% of the number of full-fledged branches (at the end of previous financial year) in a financial year, subject to a maximum of 5 branches without having the need to take permission from RBI. 
  • If the total number of full-fledged branches (at the end of previous financial year) is less than 10, the bank will be eligible to open at least one branch.
  • The banks have the liberty to either open a new branch or upgrade an Extension Counter, which has been in operation for more than 3 years, to a full-fledged branch, within the overall limit of 10%. 
  • Opening of Extension counters, Controlling Offices (Regional/ Zonal/ Administrative Office), ATMs etc. is not covered under this route and they will continue to be governed by extant guidelines.
What are the reporting requirements for opening of branches by UCBs?
  • UCBs shall report to concerned Regional Office of Department of Supervision (Central Office, in case of UCBs under jurisdiction of Mumbai office) of RBI, immediately and in any case not later than 15 calendar days, after opening of the branch complying with all the rules. 
  • The UCBs shall also submit the details on the Central Information System for Banking Infrastructure (CISBI) portal as per extant instructions.


References

Reserve Bank of India. (2023, June 08). 'Rationalization of Branch Authorisation Policy for Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs)'. Retrieved from https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=12512&Mode=0


Follow at - Telegram   Instagram   LinkedIn   Twitter   Facebook

Comments

Popular Posts

Credit Cards and Debit Cards

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued directions on issuance of credit cards and debit cards. To whom are the directions applicable? The directions are applicable to the following Regulated Entities (REs) – Commercial Banks  Small Finance Banks (SFBs) Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs) Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) for all layers – NBFC-Investment and Credit Companies (NBFC-ICC) NBFC-Factor  NBFC-Micro Finance Institutions (NBFC-MFI)  Housing Finance Company (HFC)  What is a credit card? Credit Card is a physical / virtual payment instrument issued with a pre-approved revolving credit limit that can be used to purchase goods and services or draw cash advances. What is a debit card? Debit Card is a physical / virtual payment instrument linked to a Savings Bank / Current Account which can be used to withdraw cash, make online payments, do Point of Sale (PoS) terminal / Quick Response (QR) code transactions, fund transfer, e...

Deposits between a person resident in India and a person resident outside India

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has updated the regulations on deposits between a person resident in India and a person resident outside India. What are the restrictions on deposits between a person resident in India and a person resident outside India? No person resident in India shall accept any deposit from, or make any deposit with, a person resident outside India. However, the following deposits are exempted – Deposits held in rupee accounts maintained by foreign diplomatic missions and diplomatic personnel and their family members in India with an authorised dealer. Deposits held by diplomatic missions and diplomatic personnel in special rupee accounts namely Diplomatic Bond Stores Account to facilitate purchases of bonded stocks from firms and companies who have been granted special facilities by customs authorities for import of stores into bond. The funds in the account may be repatriated outside India without the approval of the RBI. Deposits held in accounts maintained in foreig...

Credit Derivatives

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued directions on credit derivatives. What is Credit Derivative? Credit derivative means a derivative contract whose value is derived from the credit risk of an underlying debt instrument or an index of underlying debt instruments. What is Credit Default Swap (CDS) and Total Return Swap (TRS)? Credit Default Swap (CDS) means a credit derivative contract in which one counterparty (protection seller) commits to pay to the other counterparty (protection buyer) in the case of a credit event with respect to a reference entity and in return, the protection buyer makes periodic payments (premium) to the protection seller until the maturity of the contract or the credit event, whichever is earlier. Total Return Swap (TRS) means a credit derivative contract under which one counterparty (total return payer) commits to transfer the entire economic performance of a reference asset to the other counterparty (total return receiver), and, in return, receives a pre-d...

Special Rupee Vostro Accounts (SRVAs)

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has consolidated the guidelines governing Special Rupee Vostro Accounts (SRVAs). Who can open and maintain Special Rupee Vostro Accounts (SRVAs)? Authorised Dealer (AD) banks in India may open Special Rupee Vostro Accounts (SRVAs) of its branch outside India or a bank resident outside India. Which transactions can be settled through SRVA? The settlement of cross-border trade transactions through SRVA is an additional arrangement for invoicing, payment and settlement of exports and imports in Indian Rupee (INR).  All permissible capital and current account transactions under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) may be settled through the SRVA.  AD banks maintaining SRVA are permitted to open additional current account for exporter / importer, exclusively for settlement of export / import transactions. What can be the source and use of funds in SRVA? SRVA may be funded by way of inward remittances or transfer from other repatriable INR accounts in t...

Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) and Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR)

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued the directions on maintenance of Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) and Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) by banks. To whom are the directions applicable? The directions are applicable to the following Regulated Entities (REs) – Commercial Banks  Small Finance Banks (SFBs) Payments Banks (PBs) Local Area Banks (LABs) Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs) Rural Co-operative Banks – State Co-operative Banks (StCBs) District Central Co-operative Banks (DCCBs) What is CRR? Every bank shall maintain in India by way of cash reserve, a sum equivalent to such percent of its Net Demand and Time Liabilities (NDTL) in India, as the RBI in terms of Section 42(1) of the RBI Act, 1934 (for scheduled banks) and Section 18(1) of the Banking Regulation Act (BR Act), 1949 (for non-scheduled banks) [including provisions of Section 18(1) of the BR Act as applicable to co-operative banks], may specify. What is incremental CRR? In terms of Secti...