RRBs Must Update UN Terrorist Lists & Screen Accounts
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/345 · issued 29 Dec 2010 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI directs all RRBs to update the consolidated UN terrorist list (Al-Qaida/Taliban) using eight new annexes, screen all new and existing accounts against it, and follow UAPA freezing procedures from earlier circulars.
Sanctions-list safety note. This circular refers to a specific UN Security Council / UAPA designated-entities list update as it stood on the date above — sanctions lists change often, and a newer update almost certainly exists today. Never use this page, or any single dated circular, as your current screening list. Always screen against the live, current list at the official UAPA proscribed-organisations list and the UN Consolidated List, and confirm the obligations for your bank on the official rbi.org.in source below.
The rule, in the simplest words
RRBs (Regional Rural Banks) must add 8 new UN lists (Annex I to VIII) to their watchlist of bad people linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban.
Before opening any new account, check the customer's name against the updated watchlist to make sure they are not a listed terrorist.
Also check all existing accounts to see if any match the updated list.
If you find a match, freeze that account's money and assets exactly as told in the November 5, 2009 circular (paragraph 6).
The Compliance Officer must send a note to the RBI Regional Office saying they got this letter.
How it plays out — a real example
A payments & clearing officer in Indore updates her bank's watchlist with the eight new UN annexes. Before approving a new gold loan for a customer, she screens the name against the list and finds no match, so she proceeds. Later, she runs a scan of all existing loan accounts and discovers one matches a newly added name; she immediately freezes that account's funds and reports it to her Compliance Officer.
What changed
RBI forwarded eight new UN Security Council 1267 Committee notes (dated Aug 6, 2010 to Dec 17, 2010) updating the consolidated list of individuals/entities linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban. RRBs must now incorporate these changes into their screening lists and ensure compliance with the UAPA Order of August 27, 2009.
What it means for you
RRBs face heightened scrutiny: they must update their internal watchlists immediately and verify every new and existing customer against the revised UN list. Failure to freeze assets of designated persons as per the November 2009 circular could invite regulatory action. This reinforces the government's zero-tolerance stance on terror financing.
What you must do
Update your consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities with the eight new UN annexes provided.
Screen all new account openings against the updated list before onboarding.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the revised list.
Freeze funds/assets of any matched accounts as per paragraph 6 of the November 5, 2009 circular.
Ensure your Compliance Officer acknowledges receipt of this letter to the respective RBI Regional Office.
Who it affects
All Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Compliance Officers / Principal Officers of RRBs, Branch managers handling account opening and monitoring
❓ Common questions
What is the source of the updated list?
The list comes from UN Security Council's 1267 Committee notes forwarded by the Ministry of External Affairs. The full consolidated list is available on the UN website at http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/consolist.shtml.
What action is required if we find a match in existing accounts?
You must freeze the funds, financial assets, or economic resources held in those accounts, following the procedure detailed in paragraph 6 of the November 5, 2009 circular.
Do we need to acknowledge receipt of this circular?
Yes, the Compliance Officer/Principal Officer must acknowledge receipt of this letter to the concerned RBI Regional Office.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2010-11/345
RPCD.CO RRB.AML.No. 7096/03.05.28(A)/2010-11
December 29, 2010
The Chairmen
All Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)
Dear Sir,
List of Terrorist Individuals / Organisations - under UNSCR 1267(1999) and 1822(2008) on Taliban / Al-Qaida Organisation
Please refer to our circular letter RPCD.CO.RRB.AML.No.6722/03.05.28 (A)/2010-11 dated December 14, 2010 on the captioned subject. We have since received from Government of India (Ministry of External Affairs) copies of the following notes forwarded by the Chairman of UN Security Council's 1267 Committee regarding changes made in the Consolidated List of Individuals and entities linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban:
Note dated December 17, 2010 ( Annex I )
Note dated December 16, 2010 ( Annex II )
Note dated December 1, 2010 ( Annex III )
Note dated November 4, 2010 ( Annex IV )
Note dated October 21, 2010 ( Annex V )
Note dated September 28, 2010 ( Annex VI )
Note dated September 13, 2010 ( Annex VII )
Note dated August 6, 2010 ( Annex VIII )
2. RRBs are required to update the consolidated list of individuals/entities as circulated by Reserve Bank and before opening any new account, it should be ensured that the name of the proposed customer does not appear in the list. Further, RRBs should scan all existing accounts to ensure that no account is held by or linked to any of the entities or individuals included in the list.
3. RRBs are advised to strictly follow the procedure laid down in the UAPA Order dated August 27, 2009 enclosed to our circular RPCD . CO. RRB. No. 39/03.05.33(E) /2009-10 dated November 05, 2009 and ensure meticulous compliance to the Order issued by the Government.
4. As far as freezing of funds, financial assets or economic resources or related services held in the form of bank accounts of the designated individuals/entities are concerned, action should be taken as detailed in paragraph 6 of the circular dated November 05, 2009, mentioned above.
5. The complete details of the said consolidated list are available on the UN website:
http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/consolist.shtml
6. Compliance Officer/Principal Officer should acknowledge receipt of this letter to our Regional Office concerned.
Yours faithfully
(K.Bhattacharya)
General Manager
Encls: As above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/345 · issued 29 Dec 2010. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Screen all new account openings against the updated list before onboarding.
📜 Compliance
Update your consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities with the eight new UN annexes provided.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the revised list.
Freeze funds/assets of any matched accounts as per paragraph 6 of the November 5, 2009 circular.
Ensure your Compliance Officer acknowledges receipt of this letter to the respective RBI Regional Office.
Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.
Worked example & action-note template
Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (All Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Compliance Officers / Principal Officers of RRBs, Branch managers handling account opening and monitoring), your first concrete step on “RRBs Must Update UN Terrorist Lists & Screen Accounts” is: “Update your consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities with the eight new UN annexes provided.” (RBI issued this 29 Dec 2010).
Circular: RBI/2010-11/345 -- RRBs Must Update UN Terrorist Lists & Screen Accounts
Issued: 29 Dec 2010
Action required: Update your consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities with the eight new UN annexes provided.
Action required: Screen all new account openings against the updated list before onboarding.
Action required: Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the revised list.
Action required: Freeze funds/assets of any matched accounts as per paragraph 6 of the November 5, 2009 circular.
Action required: Ensure your Compliance Officer acknowledges receipt of this letter to the respective RBI Regional Office.
Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
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.
💬 Banker Discussion
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=6182&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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