HomeCirculars › RBI/2004-05/449

Door-step Banking: RBI Allows Banks to Formulate Scheme for Customer Premises Services

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2004-05/449 · issued 30 Apr 2005 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI now permits scheduled commercial banks (excluding RRBs) to formulate a board-approved door-step banking scheme for services at customer premises, subject to RBI approval. This modifies the 1983 directive that required RBI permission for such services.

What changed

Earlier, banks were advised not to extend banking facilities at customer premises without RBI permission. Now, RBI has decided that banks may formulate a scheme for providing services at customer premises with board approval and submit it for RBI approval. In the interim, agency banks may continue serving Central and State Government departments at their premises.

What it means for you

Banks can now develop a scheme for door-step services, potentially enabling cash collection and credit instrument handling at customer locations, pending RBI approval. This could open new revenue streams and improve convenience, especially for government departments. Banks must ensure compliance with Section 23 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

Who it affects

All scheduled commercial banks (excluding RRBs), Central and State Government departments

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).

What is the key change from the 1983 circular?

The 1983 circular advised banks not to extend banking facilities at customer premises without RBI permission. This circular allows banks to formulate a board-approved door-step banking scheme and seek RBI approval.

Can we immediately start door-step banking for all customers?

No. You must first get board approval for a scheme and then submit it to RBI for approval. Only after RBI approval can you implement the scheme. However, agency banks can continue serving government departments in the interim.

Does this apply to Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)?

No. The circular explicitly excludes RRBs. It applies only to scheduled commercial banks.

📜 This document’s life story (1 recorded event, each backed by RBI’s own words)
Repealed by RBI/2025-26/100 — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)
RBI’s words: “Official withdrawal register entry #2837: DBOD.No.BL.BC.86/22.01.001/2004-05 — "Section 23 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 - Door-step banking" dated April 30, 2005”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2004-05/449 DBOD.No.BL.BC.86/22.01.001/2004-05 April 30, 2005 Vaishakha 10, 1927 (S) All scheduled commercial banks. (Excluding RRBs) Dear Sir, Section 23 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 - Door-step banking Please refer to our circular DBOD.No.BL.BC.42/C-168-83 dated May 24, 1983 ( copy enclosed ), wherein banks were advised not to extend any banking facilities at the premises of their customers, without obtaining the required permission from Reserve Bank of India. 2. In view of several requests received from Government Departments like Railways, etc. for making available banking services including collection of cash at their premises and representations from banks, it has been decided that a scheme for providing services at the premises of a customer within the framework of Section 23 of Banking Regulation Act, 1949, may be formulated by banks with the approval of their Boards and submitted to the Reserve Bank for approval. 3. In the interregnum, in order that Central and State Government departments are not inconvenienced, agency banks may continue to lift cash and collect credit instruments etc. from the premises of Central and State Government Departments. Yours faithfully, (Anand Sinha) Chief General Manager-In-Charge
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2004-05/449 · issued 30 Apr 2005. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=2235&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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