RRBs: Update UN Terrorist List for Account Screening
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/439 · issued 21 Mar 2011 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI directs all RRBs to update the consolidated UN list of terrorist individuals/entities linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban, screen new and existing accounts against it, and comply with UAPA freezing procedures.
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 update their list of bad people and groups from the UN website (http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/consolist.shtml) and use it to check all customers.
Before opening any new account, check that the customer's name is not on the updated list.
Check all existing accounts to see if any belong to or are linked to people or groups on the list.
If you find a match, freeze (lock) that account's money and assets as told in the UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) rules from August 27, 2009 and RBI's November 5, 2009 circular.
The Compliance Officer or Principal Officer must tell the RBI Regional Office that they got this update.
How it plays out — a real example
A payments & clearing officer in Indore, Priya, receives this RBI circular on March 21, 2011. She immediately downloads the updated UN list from the website, checks it against all new loan applications that day, and scans her branch's existing gold-loan accounts. She finds no matches, so she sends an acknowledgment email to the RBI Regional Office as required.
What changed
RBI has forwarded a new UN Security Council 1267 Committee update (March 10, 2011) to the consolidated list of individuals/entities linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban. This supersedes the previous list circulated via circular dated March 7, 2011. RRBs must now use this updated list for all customer screening.
What it means for you
RRBs must immediately update their internal databases with the revised UN consolidated list and ensure no new account is opened for any listed individual/entity. Existing accounts must be scanned for matches, and any linked accounts must be frozen as per the UAPA Order of August 27, 2009, and RBI's November 5, 2009 circular. Non-compliance could lead to regulatory action.
What you must do
Update the consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities from the UN website (http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/consolist.shtml) and integrate it into your account opening and monitoring systems.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any that are held by or linked to listed individuals/entities.
Freeze funds, financial assets, or economic resources of any matched accounts as per paragraph 6 of the November 5, 2009 circular.
Ensure the Compliance Officer/Principal Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular to the respective RBI Regional Office.
Who it affects
All Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Compliance Officers and Principal Officers of RRBs, Branch managers handling account opening and monitoring
❓ Common questions
Where can we find the latest consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities?
The complete consolidated list is available on the UN website at http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/consolist.shtml. RBI has also circulated the updated list via this circular.
What action is required if we find an existing account linked to a listed entity?
You must freeze the funds, financial assets, or economic resources held in that account, following the procedure detailed in paragraph 6 of RBI's circular dated November 5, 2009, and comply with the UAPA Order of August 27, 2009.
Do we need to acknowledge receipt of this circular?
Yes, the Compliance Officer or 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/2010-11/439
RPCD.CORRB.AML.No. 10630/03.05.28(A)/2010-11
March 21, 2011
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.9868 /03.05.28(A)/2010-11 dated March 07, 2011 . We have since received from Government of India (Ministry of External Affairs) copy of note dated March 10, 2011 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:
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
(A.N.Shelat)
Assistant General Manager
Encls: As above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/439 · issued 21 Mar 2011. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Update the consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities from the UN website (http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/consolist.shtml) and integrate it into your account opening and monitoring systems.
💻 IT / Systems
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
📜 Compliance
Scan all existing accounts to identify any that are held by or linked to listed individuals/entities.
Freeze funds, financial assets, or economic resources of any matched accounts as per paragraph 6 of the November 5, 2009 circular.
Ensure the Compliance Officer/Principal Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular 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 Branch Manager at a bank this circular applies to (All Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Compliance Officers and Principal Officers of RRBs, Branch managers handling account opening and monitoring), your first concrete step on “RRBs: Update UN Terrorist List for Account Screening” is: “Update the consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities from the UN website (http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/consolist.shtml) and integrate it into your account opening and monitoring systems.” (RBI issued this 21 Mar 2011).
Circular: RBI/2010-11/439 -- RRBs: Update UN Terrorist List for Account Screening
Issued: 21 Mar 2011
Action required: Update the consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities from the UN website (http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/consolist.shtml) and integrate it into your account opening and monitoring systems.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Action required: Scan all existing accounts to identify any that are held by or linked to listed individuals/entities.
Action required: Freeze funds, financial assets, or economic resources of any matched accounts as per paragraph 6 of the November 5, 2009 circular.
Action required: Ensure the Compliance Officer/Principal Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular 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=6298&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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