HomeCirculars › RBI/2005-06/71

RBI Eases Prior Approval for Internet Banking Services

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2005-06/71 · issued 20 Jul 2005 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI has removed the requirement for banks to seek prior approval before launching transactional internet banking services, effective July 20, 2005. Banks must still comply with board-approved policies covering security, KYC, and operational risk.

What changed

Earlier, banks needed RBI's prior nod to offer transactional internet banking. Now, no prior approval is required, but banks must ensure their internet banking policy is board-approved, aligns with IT and security policies, addresses operational risk, and meets KYC norms as per the June 2001 circular.

What it means for you

Banks can now launch internet banking faster without waiting for RBI clearance, reducing time-to-market. However, they must independently ensure robust security and compliance, as RBI will hold them accountable for any lapses. This shift places greater responsibility on banks' boards and management.

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 offering or planning internet banking, Bank boards and senior management, IT and compliance teams

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

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

Do we still need to follow the June 2001 circular?

Yes, the June 2001 circular remains in force. Your internet banking policy must broadly meet its parameters, though prior approval is no longer needed.

What happens if our policy doesn't cover operational risk?

RBI requires the policy to explicitly account for operational risk. Non-compliance could lead to regulatory action, so ensure your policy includes risk assessment and mitigation measures.

📜 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Repealed by RBI/2025-26/100 — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)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 #2792: DBOD.No.Comp.BC.14/07.03.29/2005-06 — "Internet Banking in India – Guidelines@" dated July 20, 2005”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2005-06/71 DBOD No. Comp.BC.14/07.03.29/2005-06 July 20, 2005 All Scheduled Commercial Banks Dear Sir Internet Banking in India – Guidelines Please refer to our circular DBOD No.Comp.BC.130/07.03.23/2000-01 dated June 14, 2001 in terms of which banks were advised to seek prior approval of Reserve Bank of India before offering transactional services on the Internet. The position has since been reviewed and banks are advised that while the offering of Internet Banking services will continue to be governed by the provisions of the above circular, no prior approval of the Reserve Bank of India will be required for offering Internet Banking services. 2. Banks should, however, ensure compliance with the following conditions: a. The Internet Banking policy has been approved by the Bank's Board. b. The policy fits into the bank's overall Information Technology and Information Security policy and ensures confidentiality of records and security systems. c. The policy takes into account operational risk. d. The policy clearly lays down the procedure to be followed in respect of 'Know Your Customer' requirements, and e. The policy broadly meets the parameters laid down in our above circular. 3. Please acknowledge receipt. Yours faithfully, Prashant Saran Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2005-06/71 · issued 20 Jul 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=2379&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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