HomeCirculars › RBI/2008-09/514

Prudential Treatment of Loan Provisions for Urban Co-op Banks

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2008-09/514 · issued 29 Jun 2009 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI clarifies that additional NPA provisions above minimum rates can be netted from gross NPAs but not counted as Tier II capital. Excess provisions from NPA sales qualify as Tier II capital up to 1.25% of risk-weighted assets. Provisions for fair value diminution on restructured advances can be netted from the asset.

What changed

RBI issued guidelines specifying how different types of provisions on loan portfolios should be treated prudentially. Additional provisions for NPAs at higher than prescribed rates can be netted from gross NPAs but cannot be included in Tier II capital. Excess provisions from sale of NPAs can be admitted as Tier II capital subject to a ceiling of 1.25% of total risk-weighted assets. Provisions for diminution of fair value of restructured advances can be netted from the relative asset.

What it means for you

Urban cooperative banks can now voluntarily set aside extra provisions for NPAs beyond regulatory minimums, which helps in reflecting actual losses but does not boost capital ratios. The ability to use excess provisions from NPA sales as Tier II capital provides a limited capital relief. Netting provisions for fair value diminution from restructured assets improves balance sheet transparency.

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 Primary (Urban) Cooperative Banks, Board of Directors of urban cooperative banks, Risk management and finance teams

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

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

Can additional NPA provisions be counted as Tier II capital?

No, additional specific provisions for NPAs at higher than prescribed rates cannot be reckoned as Tier II capital, though they can be netted from gross NPAs to arrive at net NPAs.

What is the limit for admitting excess provisions from NPA sale as Tier II capital?

Excess provisions from sale of NPAs can be admitted as Tier II capital subject to an overall ceiling of 1.25% of total risk-weighted assets.

How should provisions for diminution of fair value of restructured advances be treated?

Provisions for diminution of fair value of restructured advances, whether for standard assets or NPAs, are permitted to be netted from the relative asset.

📜 This document’s life story (2 recorded events, each backed by RBI’s own words)
Clarified by UCBs: Prudential Treatment of Loan Provisions Clarified
RBI’s words: “Please refer to our circular UBD.PCB.Cir.No. 73 / 09.14.000/2008-09 dated June 29, 2009 prescribing guidelines”
Repealed by RBI/2025-26/100 — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)
RBI’s words: “Official withdrawal register entry #1909: UBD.PCB.Cir.No.73/09.14.000/2008-09 — "Prudential Treatment of Different Types of Provisions in respect of Loan Portfolios" dated June 29, 2009”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2008-09/514 UBD.PCB.Cir.No. 73  /09.14.000/2008-09 June 29, 2009 The Chief Executive Officer of All Primary (Urban) Cooperative Banks Dear Sir / Madam Prudential treatment of different types of Provisions in respect of loan portfolios It has been decided to lay down the following guidelines in regard to the prudential treatment of different types of provisions in respect of loan portfolios.  It is clarified that the relative provisions can only be reckoned for the purpose listed thereagainst. (i) Additional Provisions for NPAs at higher than prescribed rates The regulatory norms for provisioning represent the minimum requirement.  Banks may therefore voluntarily make specific provisions for NPAs at rates which are higher than the rates prescribed under existing regulations if such higher rates are based on a policy approved by the Board of Directors to provide for estimated actual loss in collectible amount and the policy is consistently adopted from year to year or if provided in the respective State Cooperative Societies Acts / Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act 2002.  The additional specific provisions for NPAs, like the minimum regulatory provision on NPAs, may be netted off from Gross NPAs to arrive at the Net NPAs. The additional specific provision for NPAs will not be reckoned as Tier II capital. (ii) Excess Provisions on sale of  NPAs Excess provisions which arise on sale of NPAs can be admitted as Tier II capital subject to the overall ceiling of 1.25% of total Risk Weighted Assets.  (iii)  Provisions for diminution of fair value Provisions for diminution of fair value of restructured advances, both in respect of Standard Assets as well as NPAs, made on account of reduction in rate of interest and / or reschedulement of principal amount are permitted to be netted from the relative asset. The above guidelines are effective from the date of this circular. Yours faithfully (A.K. Khound) Chief General Manager-in-Charge
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2008-09/514 · issued 29 Jun 2009. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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