Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2004-05/418 · issued 11 Apr 2005 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI has capped normal donations by urban co-operative banks at 1% of previous year's published profits, and total donations including to government-recognised funds at 2%. This protects depositor interests by preventing excessive charity outflows.
What changed
RBI observed that some UCBs were making large donations from charity funds, harming depositor interests. It has now mandated that normal annual donations cannot exceed 1% of the previous year's published profits. Total donations, including those to National Funds or government-recognised funds, are capped at 2% of those profits.
What it means for you
UCBs must now strictly limit charitable spending to protect depositor funds. The 1% and 2% caps apply regardless of any charity fund balance created under state or multi-state acts. Non-compliance invites penalties under Section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
Historical instruction — do not use for current compliance. This is what was required at the time; it no longer reflects current RBI requirements. If no replacement rule is linked above, that only means none is recorded on our register yet — it does not prove no later applicable rule exists. Confirm on the official RBI source below.
What banks were required to do at the time
Calculate the 1% cap on normal donations using the previous year's published profits.
Ensure total donations including to government-recognised funds stay within 2% of those profits.
Review and adjust any planned or ongoing charitable commitments to comply with these limits.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your respective RBI Regional Office.
Who it affects
All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Board of Directors and management of UCBs, Depositors of urban co-operative banks
RBI’s words: “Please refer to our Circular UBD (PCB)/BPD/Cir.43/09.72.00/2004-05 dated April 11, 2005”
Repealed byRBI/2025-26/100 — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)
RBI’s words: “Official withdrawal register entry #2846: UBD(PCB)./BPD/Cir.43/09.72.00/2004-05 — "Donations / Contributions for Public / Charitable Purposes Out of Profits of UCBs" dated April 11, 2005”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2004-05/418
UBD(PCB). / BPD/Cir. 43 / 09.72.00 /2004-05
April 11, 2005.
The Chief Executive Officers of All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks
Dear Sir/Madam,
Donations / Contributions for public /charitable purposes out of profits of UCBs
Some of the State Co-operative Societies Acts and the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act permit co-operative societies registered there under to set apart a certain portion of their net profits as charity fund and give donation out of such fund for development of co-operative movement, charitable or any other public purpose. It has come to the notice of the Reserve Bank that large donations are being made by urban co-operative banks for various purposes from out of the charity fund so created, which adversely affect the interest of depositors of the banks. The matter has been examined and it is considered necessary, in the public interest and in the interest of the depositors, that donation made by primary (urban) co-operative banks should be regulated.
2. In view of the above, it has been decided that the normal donations to be made during a year, may, in aggregate, be restricted to a ceiling of 1% of the published profits of the bank for the previous year. Such normal donations, together with those that may be made to National Funds and other funds recognized/sponsored by the Central / State Government, during a year, may not exceed 2% of the published profits of the bank for the previous year. The above restriction shall be applicable to all primary (urban) co-operative banks notwithstanding funds, if any, available in the charity fund or any similar reserve created under the provision of any other legislation.
3. These instructions are issued under Section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (AACS) and any contravention of instructions or non-compliance with the same will attract penalties under the relevant provisions of the Act.
4. Please acknowledge receipt to the concerned Regional Office of the Reserve Bank of India.
Yours faithfully,
(N.S.Vishwanathan)
Chief General Manger
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2004-05/418 · issued 11 Apr 2005. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Discuss this circular with fellow bankers — reply, upvote what helps, report what doesn’t belong. Be professional; no client data. Views are the commenter’s own, not BankPulse’s.
BankPulse Compliance Evidence Pack — generated 05 Aug 2026 · status cross-checked against RBI’s official withdrawal register (refreshed weekly). Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=2191&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert reviewer, CA Amit Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; is our own plain-English paraphrase, not RBI’s original wording.
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