HomeCirculars › RBI/2005-06/179

KYC norms extended to NBFC deposit agents

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Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2005-06/179 · issued 11 Oct 2005 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI mandates NBFCs to ensure their deposit-collecting agents comply with KYC/AML norms. NBFCs are fully liable for agent violations, must conduct due diligence, and report compliance by Dec 31, 2005.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

A KYC & compliance officer in Indore, Priya, is reviewing her NBFC's new agent list. She notices one agent, Raj, has no address on file. Priya calls Raj to get his full details and updates the deposit receipt template to include his name and office phone number, so if a customer complains, she can trace the deposit back to him. She also files a report to RBI by the deadline, showing she checked all agents.

What changed

RBI extended existing KYC guidelines to cover persons authorized by NBFCs, including brokers and agents, who collect public deposits. NBFCs are now solely responsible for ensuring these agents comply with KYC norms and must conduct due diligence on them. Deposit receipts must show agent details for customer traceability.

What it means for you

NBFCs face increased operational burden to vet and monitor agents, with full liability for any KYC lapses. This tightens anti-money laundering controls and enhances transparency, but raises compliance costs. Banks lending to or partnering with NBFCs should reassess counterparty risk.

What you must do

Who it affects

All deposit-taking NBFCs (excluding RNBCs), Brokers and agents authorized to collect deposits for NBFCs, RBI supervisory teams monitoring NBFC compliance

❓ Common questions

Are NBFCs liable for KYC violations by their agents?

Yes, the circular states it is the sole responsibility of the NBFC to ensure full KYC compliance by its agents, and the NBFC must accept full consequences of any violation.

What information must appear on deposit receipts?

Deposit receipts must show the NBFC's name and registered office address, plus the name and address of the agent who mobilized the deposit, along with a link office telephone number.

By when must NBFCs report compliance to RBI?

Compliance regarding due diligence of agents must be reported to RBI by December 31, 2005.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2005-06/179 DNBS(PD)/ CC No. 58/ 10.42 /2005-06 October 11, 2005 All deposit taking NBFCs( excluding RNBCs) Dear Sir, KYC for persons authorised by NBFCs including brokers/agents etc. to collect public deposit on behalf of NBFCs Please refer to our circular DNBS(PD).CC No. 48/10.42/2004-05 dated February 21, 2005 on the guidelines on 'Know Your Customer' norms. NBFCs were advised to follow certain customer identification procedure for opening of accounts and monitoring transactions of a suspicious nature for the purpose of reporting it to appropriate authority. These ‘Know Your Customer’ guidelines have been revisited in the context of the Recommendations made by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on Anti Money Laundering (AML) standards and on Combating Financing of Terrorism (CFT). 2. The compliance with these standards by the banks/financial institutions/NBFCs in the country have become necessary for international financial relationships. It is necessary that the guidelines should be equally applicable to the persons authorised by NBFCs including brokers/agents etc. collecting public deposits on behalf of NBFCs. i. Adherence to Know Your Customer (KYC) guidelines by NBFC and persons authorised by NBFCs including brokers/agents etc. An obligation has been cast on the banking companies, financial institutions and intermediaries, by the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (Chapter IV), to comply with certain requirements in regard to maintenance of record of the transactions of prescribed nature and value, furnishing of information relating to those transactions and verification and maintenance of the records of identity of all its clients in prescribed manner. Accordingly, instructions were issued to NBFCs vide our circular DNBS (PD) CC No. 48 /10.42/ 2004-05 dated February 21, 2005 . As regards deposits collected by persons authorised by NBFCs including brokers/agents etc. inasmuch as such persons are collecting the deposits on behalf of the NBFC, it shall be the sole responsibility of the NBFC to ensure full compliance with the KYC guidelines by such persons. The NBFC should make available all information to the Bank to verify the compliance with the KYC guidelines and accept full consequences of any violation by the persons authorised by NBFCs including brokers/agents etc. who are operating on its behalf. ii Due diligence of persons authorised by NBFCs including brokers/agents etc. As an extension of the KYC Guidelines, NBFCs should put in place a process of due diligence in respect of persons authorised by NBFCs including brokers/agents etc. collecting deposits on behalf of the company through a uniform policy for appointment and detailed verification. Details of due diligence conducted may be kept on record with the company for verification. Compliance in this regard should be reported to RBI by December 31, 2005. In the depositors’ interests and for enhancing transparency of operations, the companies should have systems in place to ensure that the books of accounts of persons authorised by NBFCs including brokers/agents etc, so far as they relate to brokerage functions of the company, are available for audit and inspection whenever required. iii. Customer service in terms of identifiable contact with persons authorised by NBFCs including brokers/agents etc. All deposit receipts should bear the name and Registered Office address of the NBFC and must invariably indicate the name of the persons authorised by NBFCs including brokers/agents etc. and their addresses who mobilised the deposit and the link office with the telephone number of such officer and/or persons authorised by NBFCs including brokers/agents etc in order that there is a clear indication of the identifiable contact with the field persons and matters such as unclaimed / lapsed deposits, discontinued deposits, interest payments and other customer grievances are appropriately addressed. The companies may also evolve suitable review procedures to identify persons authorised by NBFCs including brokers/agents etc. in whose cases the incidence of discontinued deposits is high for taking suitable action. Yours faithfully, Sd/- (P. Krishnamurthy) Chief General Manager In-Charge
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2005-06/179 · issued 11 Oct 2005. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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Topics: Deposits / Interest Rates
Key dataSee the live numbers behind this topic: Repo Rate Timeline, Credit & Deposit Growth — updated from official RBI data.
Key termsPlain-English definitions of terms in this circular — see the full Indian banking glossary. Repo rate · CASA · Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) · Deposit insurance (DICGC)
Who does what — compliance checklist
⚙️ Operations
  • Maintain records of due diligence conducted on agents for RBI inspection.
📜 Compliance
  • Implement a uniform policy for appointment and detailed verification of all deposit-collecting agents.
  • Ensure all deposit receipts include agent name, address, and link office contact details.
  • Report compliance with these KYC extension norms to RBI by December 31, 2005.
  • Set up review procedures to identify agents with high discontinued deposit incidence.
Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.
Worked example & action-note template

Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (All deposit-taking NBFCs (excluding RNBCs), Brokers and agents authorized to collect deposits for NBFCs, RBI supervisory teams monitoring NBFC compliance), your first concrete step on “KYC norms extended to NBFC deposit agents” is: “Implement a uniform policy for appointment and detailed verification of all deposit-collecting agents.” (RBI issued this 11 Oct 2005).

  1. Circular: RBI/2005-06/179 -- KYC norms extended to NBFC deposit agents
  2. Issued: 11 Oct 2005
  3. Action required: Implement a uniform policy for appointment and detailed verification of all deposit-collecting agents.
  4. Action required: Ensure all deposit receipts include agent name, address, and link office contact details.
  5. Action required: Maintain records of due diligence conducted on agents for RBI inspection.
  6. Action required: Report compliance with these KYC extension norms to RBI by December 31, 2005.
  7. Action required: Set up review procedures to identify agents with high discontinued deposit incidence.
  8. Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
  9. Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
  10. Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
Built only from this circular’s own published fields — not legal advice; always confirm against the official RBI source.

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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=2531&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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