Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2008-09/504 · issued 18 Jun 2009 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI has clarified that RRBs can rename their 'Controlling Offices' and 'Area Offices' as 'Regional Offices'. This replaces the terms 'Controlling Offices/Area Offices' in paragraphs 2 and 2.3 of the Master Circular on Branch Licensing for RRBs, as per the circular dated June 18, 2009.
What changed
RBI clarified that 'Controlling Office' includes 'Area Office' for RRBs. Both can now be referred to as 'Regional Office' in paragraphs 2 and 2.3 of the Master Circular on Branch Licensing for RRBs.
What it means for you
This simplifies branch licensing terminology for RRBs, aligning it with standard banking nomenclature. Banks can now uniformly use 'Regional Office' for administrative oversight, reducing confusion in regulatory compliance.
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
Update internal documents and circulars to replace 'Controlling Office' and 'Area Office' with 'Regional Office'.
Inform all branches and sponsor banks about the nomenclature change.
Ensure compliance with the revised Master Circular on Branch Licensing for RRBs.
repealed_by — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)
Status change: withdrawn03 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 change affect any existing circulars?
Yes, it clarifies that the instructions in the circular dated May 4, 2009 apply to Area Offices as well, and the terms in paragraphs 2 and 2.3 of the Master Circular on Branch Licensing for RRBs dated July 1, 2008, and the circular dated May 4, 2009, should be replaced with 'Regional Office'.
📜 This document’s life story (2 recorded events, each backed by RBI’s own words)
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2008-09/504
RPCD.CO.RRB.BC No. 114/03.05.90-A/2008-09
June 18, 2009
All Regional Rural Banks
Dear Sir,
"Controlling Office" renamed as "Regional Office"- RRBs
Please refer to paragraph 2 and 2.3 of our Master Circular on Branch Licensing - Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) RPCD.CO.RRB.No.BL.BC.07/ 03.05.90-A/2008-09 (RBI/2008-09/36) July 1, 2008 read with Circular RPCD. CO. RRB. BC. No. 101/ 03.05.90-A/ 2008-09 dated May 4, 2009, on the captioned subject.
2. We have been receiving queries from certain sponsor banks as to whether RRBs can convert their "Area Offices" into "Regional Offices".
3. It is clarified that "Controlling Office", for all purposes, includes "Area Office", and the instructions contained in our circular dated May 4, 2009 are applicable to "Area Office" also. Accordingly, the words "Controlling Offices/ Area Offices" referred in paragraph 2 and 2.3 of our aforesaid Master Circular may be replaced by the words "Regional Offices".
4. Please acknowledge receipt to our Regional Office concerned.
Yours faithfully,
(B.P.Vijayendra)
Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2008-09/504 · issued 18 Jun 2009. 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 03 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=5041&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.
Help us keep this accurate
Found an inaccuracy or have an improvement? Tell us. Every report is reviewed by our team before any change is made — nothing goes live unverified.
Public beta — plain-English informational summaries. Always verify against the official RBI source (circular number cited on every page) before making compliance, credit, treasury, audit, or operational decisions. · Join our WhatsApp channel ↗
BANKPULSE · FREE DAILY BRIEF
Get RBI updates for your role
Every important RBI update, decoded in plain English — for your career, exams & financial awareness.
We collect only your email, name and role, used solely to send your brief — never sold or shared. Withdraw anytime via the unsubscribe link in any email. Independent platform, not affiliated with the RBI. Information, not legal advice.
REPORT AN ERROR · BETA
Spotted an error? Earn 500 BankPulse Credits
Help us stay accurate. If your correction is verified true and approved by our founder, you earn 500 BankPulse Credits — redeemable when the platform monetises.
Reviewed by a human before any credit is awarded. We never change the site from crowd input without verification.
WANT A NEW FEATURE · BETA
What would make BankPulse more useful for you?
Tell us what to build next — a tool, a data view, a role page, anything. We read every suggestion.
Thank you — your ideas directly shape what we build.