UCBs: Ban on Credit to Stockbrokers & Commodity Brokers
No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2007-2008/96 · issued 13 Jul 2007 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI has clarified that Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) are completely prohibited from extending any fund-based or non-fund-based credit to stockbrokers or commodity brokers, including guarantees. Existing non-compliant facilities must be closed immediately.
What changed
RBI clarified that the existing prohibition on advances against shares/debentures for trading or to stockbrokers is absolute. UCBs cannot provide any credit—secured or unsecured, fund-based or non-fund-based—to stockbrokers, including against fixed deposits or LIC policies. Similarly, no facility, including guarantees, is allowed for commodity brokers. Advances against mutual fund units are restricted to individuals only.
What it means for you
UCBs must immediately stop all lending to stockbrokers and commodity brokers, including guarantees. This tightens risk exposure to volatile markets. Existing non-compliant loans must be recalled or closed, and a compliance report sent to the regional RBI office. Banks should review all credit portfolios to ensure no indirect exposure remains.
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
Identify and close all fund-based and non-fund-based credit facilities to stockbrokers and commodity brokers immediately.
Ensure no guarantees are issued on behalf of commodity brokers.
Restrict advances against mutual fund units to individual borrowers only.
Submit a compliance report to your regional RBI office without delay.
Review all existing credit facilities for any indirect exposure to prohibited entities.
Who it affects
All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs), Stockbrokers and commodity brokers seeking credit from UCBs, UCB credit and risk management teams, RBI regional offices monitoring compliance
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-19 15:37 IST
repealed_by — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)
Status change: withdrawn05 Aug 2026, 04:00 IST
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
Does this ban cover non-fund-based facilities like letters of credit or guarantees?
Yes, the prohibition explicitly includes non-fund-based credit facilities, such as guarantees, for both stockbrokers and commodity brokers.
Can UCBs give loans to individuals against mutual fund units?
Yes, advances against units of mutual funds are permitted only to individuals, similar to the rules for shares, debentures, and bonds.
What should we do if we currently have a loan to a stockbroker?
You must withdraw or close that facility without any delay and report compliance to your regional RBI office.
📜 This document’s life story (1 recorded event, each backed by RBI’s own words)
Repealed byRBI/2025-26/100 — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)
RBI’s words: “Official withdrawal register entry #2369: UBD.PCB.Cir.No.7/13.05.000/07-08 — "Bank Finance against Shares and Debentures - UCBs" dated July 13, 2007”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2007-2008/96
UBD. PCB.Cir. No.7/13.05.000/07-08
July 13, 2007
The Chief Executive Officers of
All Primary (urban) Co-operative Banks
Dear Sir/Madam
Bank Finance against Shares and Debentures- UCBs.
Please refer to the instructions contained in para 2 (i) of our circular UBD.No.DS.PCB.Cir.10 /13.05.00/98-99 dated November 27, 1998 on the captioned subject wherein banks have been advised, inter alia , not to consider any proposal for grant of advances against shares/debentures for trading or for granting advances to share and stock brokers. In this connection, it is clarified as under:
(i) UCBs are prohibited from extending any fund based or non fund based credit facilities whether secured or unsecured to stockbrokers. The prohibition would thus cover in addition to shares and debentures, loans and advances against other securities, such as fixed deposits, LIC policies etc.
(ii) UCBs are not permitted to extend any facility to commodity brokers. This would include issue of guarantees on their behalf.
(iii) Advances against units of mutual funds can be extended only to individuals as in the case of advances against the security of shares, debentures and bonds.
2. Any credit facility presently in force, but not in consonance with the above instructions should be withdrawn /closed without any delay. A compliance report in this regard may be submitted to our Regional Office concerned.
3. Please acknowledge receipt to the Regional Office concerned of Reserve Bank.
Yours faithfully,
( N.S.Vishwanathan )
Chief General Manager-in-Charge
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2007-2008/96 · issued 13 Jul 2007. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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=3719&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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