Lending to MSMEs makes a strong business case for the banks in view of the changing dynamics in the economy like demographic patterns, urbanisation trends, increasing thrust on industrialisation, addition of new customers under financial inclusion programme and growing levels of literacy. This was stated by Shri S S Mundra, Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India while launching the National Mission for Capacity Building of Bankers for financing MSME Sector in College

The Reserve Bank of India today announced the constitution of a Committee with the objective of working out a medium-term (five year) measurable action plan for financial inclusion. It may be recalled that on the occasion of the Reserve Bank’s 80th anniversary, Hon’ble Prime Minister in his address urged the Bank to take the lead in encouraging financial institutions and to set a medium-to-long term target for sustainable financial inclusion. The terms of reference of

Prime Minister urges Banking Fraternity to set Goals for Next 20 Years to remove India's PovertyOpening remarks by Dr. Raghuram G. Rajan, Governor, Reserve Bank of IndiaPrime Minister's remarksPrime Minister's remarks full text in HindiVideo recording of inaugural function of RBI celebrating completion of its 80th year

The Reserve Bank of India’s College of Agricultural Banking (CAB), Pune is conducting an essay competition to promote financial literacy. The theme for the Essay Competition 2014 is “How to make India a financially literate country – Strategies”. The competition is open for participation for two channels of participants; viz.: (i) the staff of various banks, namely, scheduled commercial banks, regional rural banks, state cooperative banks, National Bank for Agricultur

Photographs Master Mukund Choudhary and Master Jay Puri Goswami of Krishna Public School, Dunda, Raipur emerged as winners in the tough, brain-teasing national finals of RBIQ 2014 held in Mumbai today. Master K V Siddharth and Master Preetham Upadhya of Lourdes Central School, Mangalore were the runners up. RBIQ is the annual all-India Inter-School Quiz launched by the Reserve Bank of India in 2012. It is one more important effort of the Reserve Bank towards spreading

The Reserve Bank of India has today placed on its website draft criteria for registering institutions, organisations and associations for grant of financial assistance from the Depositor Education and Awareness Fund (Fund) under the Depositor Education and Awareness Fund Scheme, 2014 (Scheme). Members of public, banks, academia, industry and other stakeholders may send their comments on the criteria to Chief General Manager, Reserve Bank of India, Department of Bankin

The Annual Banking Ombudsmen Conference was held at the Reserve Bank of India, Mumbai on January 30, 2014 and was inaugurated by Dr. Raghuram G. Rajan, Governor, Reserve Bank of India. The Governor delivered the keynote address and expressed that customer protection is at the core of the central Banks’ concerns. He released the Annual Report of the Banking Ombudsman Scheme for year 2012-2013. The Annual Report contains the highlights of the performance of 15 Offices o

Apropos the recommendations of the Committee on Customer Service in Banks (Damodaran Committee) pertaining to Banking Ombudsman Scheme 2006 and the Rajya Sabha Committee on Subordinate Legislation, a Working Group (Chairperson: Smt. Suma Varma) has been constituted in the Reserve Bank of India to review, update, and revise the Banking Ombudsman Scheme, 2006. This was revealed in the Annual Report of the Banking Ombudsman Scheme, 2011-12 published here today by the Res

The Reserve Bank of India, today, released the Annual Report of the Banking Ombudsman Scheme for the year 2010-2011. The Banking Ombudsman Scheme was instituted by the Reserve Bank in 1995 to provide speedy solutions to the grievances of bank customers. There are 15 Offices of Banking Ombudsmen across the country. The report is a synopsis of activities of all the offices of Banking Ombudsman. The report indicates that compared to last year there was decline of 10 per

1. Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) will standardise most important terms and conditions (MITC) for at least ten important banking transactions and circulate among banks for adaptation. 2. Banks would initiate the process of providing one view of all bank accounts of a customer including deposits, loans, etc., with the help of available technology, such as, core banking solution. Banks would be complete the process within one year. 3. Banks would convey to the Reserve

The Reserve Bank of India, today, released the Annual Report of the Banking Ombudsman Scheme for the year 2009-2010. The Banking Ombudsman Scheme was established by the Reserve Bank in 1995 to provide speedy solutions to the grievances faced by bank customers. The Report indicates an increase in customers’ awareness of the Scheme resulting in an increase in the absolute number of complaints received in BO Offices. What more, the number of complaints from rural areas a

Photograph Mandatory doubling of the limit for collateral free loans to micro and small enterprises (MSEs) sector to Rs.10 lakh from the present Rs. 5 lakh, increase in the extent of guarantee cover, absorption of guarantee fees for the collateral free loans by CGTMSE subject to certain conditions, lower guarantee fees for women entrepreneurs and enterprises in the North-East, simplification of procedure for filing claims with CGTMSE and increasing awareness about the

The Reserve Bank of India has proactively started issuing general directions to all banks so as to protect the bank customers against banks’ act of commissions and omissions. Called ‘class action,’ such general directions are issued by the regulator in cases that could benefit not only the applicant but all those customers similarly placed without their having to approach their respective banks/ the Reserve Bank. The Reserve Bank has already initiated such class actio

A Reserve Bank of India Working Group has recommended the following new entities for appointment of Business Correspondents (BCs) for banks in rural and semi-urban areas: i) Individual kirana/medical/fair price shop owners ii) Individual Public Call Office (PCO) operators iii) Agents of Small Savings Schemes of Government of India/Insurance Companies iv) Individuals who own petrol pumps v) Retired teachers vi) Authorised functionaries of well run Self Help Groups (SHG

The Reserve Bank of India has widened the scope of its Banking Ombudsman Scheme 2006, to include deficiencies arising out of internet banking. Under the amended Scheme, a customer would also be able to lodge a complaint against the bank for its non-adherence to the provisions of the fair practices code for lenders or the Code of Bank's Commitment to Customers issued by the Banking Codes and Standards Board of India (BCSBI). The BCSBI is an independent and autonomous w

The Reserve Bank of India today published the Annual Report on the functioning of the Banking Ombudsman Scheme for the period 2007-08. According to the Report, during the year 2007-08, the Banking Ombudsmen received 47,887 complaints, up from 38,638 complaints received in 2006-07. The Reserve Bank of India introduced the Banking Ombudsman Scheme in June 1995 to provide low cost and effective forum for redressal of customer grievances against banks. The Scheme was firs

The Reserve Bank of India has today placed on its website for public comments, reports of three Working Groups. These are : (i) Defraying Costs of ICT Solutions for Regional Rural Banks (RRBs); (ii) Technology Upgradation of Regional Rural Banks; and (iii) IT support for Urban Co-operative Banks. The setting up of the Working Groups was announced in the Mid-Term Review of the Annual Policy for 2007-08. The Working Group on Defraying Costs of ICT Solutions for Regional

The Reserve Bank of India today placed on its website, the Report of an Internal Working Group set up to examine and to suggest a way forward to implement the recommendations of the Report on "Conditions of Work and Promotion of Livelihoods in the Unorganised Sector" of the National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector. The National Commission was constituted by the Government of India under the Chairmanship of Dr. Arjun K. Sengupta. The National Commi

The Reserve Bank of India today advised scheduled commercial banks (including Local Area Banks) to take necessary action towards implementation of the Agricultural Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme for farmers at the earliest. It has been further advised that implementation of the Scheme should be completed by June 30, 2008.It may be recalled that the Hon’ble Finance Minister, in his Budget Speech (paragraph 73) for 2008-09 had announced a debt waiver and debt relief

The Reserve Bank of India has today placed on its website www.rbi.org.in the Report of the Working Group on Improvement of Banking Services in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. With a view to improving the outreach of banks and their services, promoting financial inclusion and supporting the development plans of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep (UTL), a Working Group was constituted under the Chairmanship of Shri S.Ramaswamy, Regional Director, Kerala and UTL, Res