RBI Liberalises Mobile Branch and ATM Rules for Tier 3-6 Centres
No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/132 · issued 23 Jul 2010 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI now allows domestic scheduled commercial banks (excluding RRBs) to set up mobile branches and ATMs in Tier 3-6 centres and rural/semi-urban/urban areas in North Eastern states and Sikkim without prior approval, subject to reporting.
What changed
Earlier, general permission for branch expansion in these areas was limited to physical branches. Now, RBI has extended the same liberalised policy to mobile branches and mobile ATMs, removing the need for prior approval. Banks can operationalise these units simply by reporting to RBI in the prescribed format.
What it means for you
Banks can now rapidly extend banking services to underserved and remote areas using mobile vans and ATMs, without waiting for case-by-case RBI clearance. This reduces administrative delays and encourages financial inclusion. However, mobile branches must avoid areas already served by cooperative banks or regular commercial bank branches, and must maintain clear schedules and publicity.
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 eligible Tier 3-6 centres and North Eastern/Sikkim locations for mobile branch and ATM deployment.
Ensure mobile branches are well-protected vans with at least two officials, cash, and books, and visit each location on fixed days/hours.
Publicise the mobile branch schedule widely in each village and display it at service points; update customers on any changes.
Report operationalisation of each mobile branch and ATM to RBI using the Annex format provided in this circular (as per Master Circular DBOD.No.BL.BC.8/22.01.001/2010-11).
Avoid deploying mobile branches in villages already served by cooperative banks or regular commercial bank branches.
Who it affects
Domestic scheduled commercial banks (excluding RRBs), Banks' branch expansion and financial inclusion teams, Rural and semi-urban customers in Tier 3-6 centres and North Eastern states/Sikkim
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).
Do we need RBI approval for each mobile branch or ATM under this circular?
No, general permission is granted. You only need to report the operationalisation to RBI in the prescribed format after setting up the mobile branch or ATM.
Can we operate a mobile branch in a village that already has a cooperative bank branch?
No. The circular explicitly states that mobile branches should not visit villages or centres served by cooperative banks or regular commercial bank branches.
What are the key operational requirements for a mobile branch?
It must be a well-protected van with at least two bank officials, books, and a cash safe. It should visit each location on specified days and hours, and all transactions must be recorded in the base branch or data centre books.
📜 This document’s life story (2 recorded events, 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 #1626: DBOD.No.BL.BC.27/22.01.001/2010-11 — "Section 23 of Banking Regulation Act, 1949 - Mobile Branches and Mobile ATMs" dated July 23, 2010”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2010-11/132
DBOD.No. BL.BC.27/22.01.001/2010-11
July 23, 2010
Shravana 1, 1932 (S)
All Scheduled Commercial Banks
(excluding RRBs)
Dear Sir,
Section 23 of Banking Regulation Act, 1949 -
Mobile Branches and Mobile ATMs
In terms of our circular DBOD.No.BL.BC. 65/ 22.01.001/ 2009-10 dated December 1, 2009 , general permission was granted to domestic scheduled commercial banks (other than RRBs) to open branches in Tier 3 to Tier 6 centres (with population upto 49,999 as per Census 2001) and in rural, semi urban and urban centres in the North Eastern States and Sikkim, subject to reporting.
2. It has since been decided to further liberalise the Branch Authorisation Policy and grant general permission to domestic scheduled commercial banks (other than RRBs) to operationalise Mobile branches in Tier 3 to Tier 6 centres (with population upto 49,999 as per Census 2001) and in rural, semi urban and urban centres in the North Eastern States and Sikkim, subject to reporting.
3. The scheme of mobile branch envisages the extension of banking facilities through a well protected van with arrangements for two or three officials of the bank sitting in it with books, safe containing cash etc. The mobile unit would visit the places proposed to be served by it on specific days / hours. The mobile branch should not visit villages / centres which are served by co-operative banks and places served by regular branch of commercial banks. The mobile branch should be stationed in each village/ location for a reasonable time on specified days and specified hours, so that its services could be utilized properly by customers. The business transacted at the mobile branch shall be recorded in the books of the base branch/data centre. The bank may give wide publicity about the mobile branch in the village, including details of "specified days and working hours" at various locations so as to avoid any confusion to local customers; and any change in this regard should also be publicized. In order to inform public/customers, arrangement should be made to display these details in the areas serviced by the mobile branch.
4. Further, it has been decided to grant general permission to Scheduled commercial banks (other than RRBs) to operationalise Mobile ATMs at centres / places identified by them, without prior permission from the Reserve Bank, subject to reporting. Other conditions stipulated in our circular DBOD.No.BL.BC.137/22.01.001/2008-09 dated June 12, 2009 remain unchanged.
5. The details of the mobile branches and mobile ATMs should be reported to Reserve Bank of India in the proforma given in Annex , as required in terms of paragraph 19 of our Master circular DBOD.No.BL.BC. 8/ 22.01.001/ 20010-11 dated July 1,2010.
Yours faithfully
( A.K. Khound)
Chief General Manager
Annex
Bank :
A. Format for reporting operationalisation of mobile branches / Offices
Sr.No.
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/132 · issued 23 Jul 2010. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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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=5891&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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