HomeCirculars › RBI/2007-2008/94

Goodwill amortization norms for UCB mergers

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2007-2008/94 · issued 13 Jul 2007 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI has clarified how UCBs must treat goodwill arising from mergers: amortize over five years in equal installments. If assets exceed liabilities with no consideration paid, treat the excess as capital reserve. This aligns with AS-14 accounting standards.

What changed

RBI reviewed its earlier 2005 circular on amortizing losses from UCB mergers. The new circular provides specific accounting treatment for goodwill based on AS-14: any excess of consideration over net assets taken over must be amortized over five years. It also clarifies that if no consideration is paid and liabilities exceed assets, the excess is goodwill; if assets exceed liabilities, it becomes capital reserve.

What it means for you

For UCBs involved in mergers, this circular standardizes goodwill recognition and amortization, ensuring consistency with accounting standards. Banks must now systematically write off goodwill over five years, impacting profit and loss statements. The capital reserve treatment for surplus assets provides a clear balance sheet classification.

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

Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs), Acquirer banks in UCB mergers, Auditors and compliance teams of UCBs

❓ 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 amortization period for goodwill in UCB mergers?

Goodwill must be amortized over a period of five years in equal installments, including the year of merger.

How should we treat the excess of assets over liabilities when no consideration is paid?

The excess of book value of assets over book value of liabilities should be treated as Capital Reserve, not goodwill.

Does this circular replace the earlier 2005 circular on amortization of losses?

Yes, this circular updates the earlier guidance by aligning with AS-14 and providing specific treatment for goodwill and capital reserve.

📜 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 #2368: UBD.PCB.Cir.No.5/09.16.901/2007-08 — "Amortization of Goodwill on Merger - UCBs" dated July 13, 2007”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2007-2008/94 UBD. PCB.Cir.No. 5/09.16.901/2007-08 July 13, 2007 The Chief Executive Officer of All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks Dear Sir/Madam, Amortization of goodwill on merger-UCBs Please refer to our circular UBD. PCB.Cir.No 18 /09.16.901/05-06 dated November 22, 2005 permitting the acquirer bank to amortize the loss taken over from the acquired UCB over a period of not more than five years, including the year of merger. 2. The matter has been reviewed taking into consideration the underlying provisions of AS-14 of Accounting Standards issued by Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and it is advised as under: i) Where the consideration, if any, paid for the acquisition/amalgamation exceeds the book value of the net assets taken over, the excess amount should be treated as goodwill and amortized over a period of five years in equal installments. ii) Where no consideration is paid but the book value of the assets is less than the book value of liabilities taken over, the excess of the book value of liabilities over the book value of the assets taken over will be considered as goodwill and amortized over a period of five years in equal installments. iii) Where no consideration is paid, but the book value of the assets taken over is greater than the book value of the liabilities taken over, the excess of the book value of assets over the book value of the liabilities will be considered as Capital Reserve. 3.     Please acknowledge receipt of the circular to the Regional Office concerned. Yours faithfully, ( N.S.Vishwanathan ) Chief General Manager-in-Charge
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2007-2008/94 · issued 13 Jul 2007. 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=3718&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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