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
NBFCs (companies that lend money but are not banks) must make sure their agents (people who collect deposits for them) follow KYC (checking who the customer is) rules.
If an agent breaks KYC rules, the NBFC is fully responsible and must accept the punishment.
NBFCs must check their agents carefully before hiring them and keep records of that check for RBI (the central bank) to see.
Every deposit receipt must show the agent's name, address, and office contact so the customer can be traced.
NBFCs must tell RBI by December 31, 2005 that they are following these rules.
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
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.
Maintain records of due diligence conducted on agents for RBI inspection.
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.
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.
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).
Circular: RBI/2005-06/179 -- KYC norms extended to NBFC deposit agents
Issued: 11 Oct 2005
Action required: Implement a uniform policy for appointment and detailed verification of all deposit-collecting agents.
Action required: Ensure all deposit receipts include agent name, address, and link office contact details.
Action required: Maintain records of due diligence conducted on agents for RBI inspection.
Action required: Report compliance with these KYC extension norms to RBI by December 31, 2005.
Action required: Set up review procedures to identify agents with high discontinued deposit incidence.
Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
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.
💬 Banker Discussion
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=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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