HomeCirculars › RBI/2008-09/262

RBI Special Refinance Facility (SRF) – Nov 2008

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2008-09/262 · issued 03 Nov 2008 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI introduced a Special Refinance Facility (SRF) under Section 17(3B) of the RBI Act, 1934, allowing scheduled commercial banks (excluding RRBs) to access refinance up to 1% of their NDTL as on Oct 24, 2008, at the repo rate (7.5% from Nov 3, 2008), for 90-day periods.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

A branch operations officer in Indore, Priya, checks her bank's NDTL as of October 24, 2008, and calculates they can borrow up to ₹10 crore under the SRF. She prepares the demand promissory note and declaration, then draws ₹5 crore to cover a sudden surge in agricultural loan requests. She ensures the entire amount is repaid within 90 days to avoid RBI debiting her bank's account.

What changed

RBI announced a new SRF for scheduled commercial banks (excluding RRBs) effective November 3, 2008. Banks can borrow up to 1% of their NDTL as on October 24, 2008, at the prevailing repo rate (7.5%). The facility is for 90-day tenors, with flexible drawdown and repayment, and limits remain unchanged until further notice.

What it means for you

This SRF provides banks with additional liquidity at the repo rate, helping them manage short-term funding needs against eligible loans. Banks must ensure their outstanding under this facility is repaid within 90 days, or RBI will debit their account; persistent defaults may lead to withdrawal of the facility. It supports lending for bonafide commercial, trade, and agricultural purposes.

What you must do

Who it affects

All Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding Regional Rural Banks), Bank treasury and liquidity management teams, Bank credit departments handling commercial and agricultural loans

❓ 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 interest rate on the SRF?

The SRF is provided at the repo rate under LAF, which was 7.5% effective November 3, 2008.

How long can we keep the refinance outstanding?

The facility is for a maximum of 90 days from the first day of utilisation. You can draw and repay flexibly within this period, but all outstandings must be repaid by the 90th day.

What happens if we fail to repay within 90 days?

RBI will debit your account for the outstanding amount. Persistent defaults may lead to withdrawal of the SRF for your bank.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2008-09/262 Ref.No.MPD.BC. 309 /02.01.009/2008-09 November 3, 2008 All Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding Regional Rural Banks) Special Refinance Facility (SRF) under Section 17(3B) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 Dear Sir/Madam, Please refer to the Reserve Bank's Press Release 2008-2009/603 of November 01, 2008 . As indicated therein, it has been decided to introduce a special refinance facility (SRF) under Section 17(3B) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. Under this facility, scheduled commercial banks (excluding Regional Rural Banks) will be eligible for refinance to the extent of up to 1.0 per cent of each bank's net demand and time liabilities (NDTL) as on October 24, 2008. 2.  The terms and conditions for availment of the SRF are set out below: (i) Refinance under the SRF will be provided at the repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF), i.e. , at 7.5 per cent with effect from November 3, 2008; (ii) Each bank's limit under the SRF will remain unchanged until further notice; (iii) The bank seeking refinance should deliver to the Reserve Bank demand promissory notes covering the principal amount of advances and the prescribed rates of interest ( Proforma I ); (iv) The bank seeking refinance should also give a declaration that it is seeking refinance against loans and advances made against bonafide commercial and trade transactions or for financing agricultural operations and marketing of crops in excess of the principal amount as on the date of the declaration and related undertakings ( Proforma II ); and (v) The availment of advances by any bank under this facility shall be restricted to a period of 90 days (including Sundays and holidays) reckoned from the date of first day of utilisation. The refinance can be drawn and repaid flexibly during this period. The bank availing refinance must repay the entire outstandings, if any, under the SRF within this stipulated time, failing which the Reserve Bank shall debit its account with it. In case a bank persists with defaults in this regard, the Reserve Bank will be constrained to withdraw the SRF for the defaulting bank. Please confirm the acceptability of the abovementioned terms and conditions to our concerned office to enable them to take further action in the matter, under advice to us.] Yours faithfully, (M.D.Patra) Adviser-in-Charge PROFORMA I Demand Promissory Note (Special Refinance Facility) On demand, we ____________________  (Bank's Name) promise to pay to the Reserve Bank of India or order the sum of Rs.____________ (Rupees __________________) with interest at repo rates as announced by the Reserve Bank of India for special refinance facility at the time of full repayment or as monthly rests, whichever is earlier, for value received. For and on behalf of ________________________ Bank (2 Authorised Signatories & revenue stamp) Name and Designation of both signatories Place: Date: Note : To be stamped as Demand Promissory Note PROFORMA II Declaration Date : _____________ The Chief General Manager, Reserve Bank of India, Deposit Accounts Department, _____________ . Dear Sir,             We, the ____________________ Bank, hereby declare that our net demand and time liabilities stood at Rs.___________ crore (Rupees _____________crore) as on October 24, 2008. 2. We declare that as on the date of this declaration, we have made loans and advances for bonafide commercial and trade transactions or for financing agricultural operations and marketing of crops in excess of Rs._________ crore (Rupees _______________ crore) being the amount equivalent to one per cent of our net demand and time liabilities as on October 24, 2008. 3. We accept the terms and conditions indicated in the RBI circular MPD. BC.309/02.01.009/2008-09 dated November 3, 2008 on special refinance facility. 4. We undertake that the aggregate amount of the loans and advances made by us as aforesaid shall not be less than the loans and advances made available to us by you under the Section 17(3B) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. 5. We further agree that on the faith of the correctness of the contents of this declaration, you will make and / or continue advances to us under the Section 17(3B) of the said Act. Yours faithfully, For and on behalf of __________________ Bank (Authorised Signatory) Name            :  Designation    :
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2008-09/262 · issued 03 Nov 2008. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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Worked example & action-note template

Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (All Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding Regional Rural Banks), Bank treasury and liquidity management teams, Bank credit departments handling commercial and agricultural loans), your first concrete step on “RBI Special Refinance Facility (SRF) – Nov 2008” is: “Assess your bank's NDTL as on October 24, 2008, to determine the maximum eligible refinance amount (1% of NDTL).” (RBI issued this 03 Nov 2008).

  1. Circular: RBI/2008-09/262 -- RBI Special Refinance Facility (SRF) – Nov 2008
  2. Issued: 03 Nov 2008
  3. Action required: Assess your bank's NDTL as on October 24, 2008, to determine the maximum eligible refinance amount (1% of NDTL).
  4. Action required: Prepare and execute a demand promissory note (Proforma I) covering the principal and interest at repo rate.
  5. Action required: Submit a declaration (Proforma II) confirming that loans and advances for bonafide commercial/trade/agricultural purposes exceed the refinance amount.
  6. Action required: Ensure any SRF drawdown is fully repaid within 90 days from first utilisation to avoid automatic debit or facility withdrawal.
  7. Action required: Confirm acceptance of terms to the concerned RBI office to initiate the facility.
  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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Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=4592&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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