HomeCirculars › RBI/2010-11/452

UCBs can collect account payee cheques up to ₹50,000 for co-op credit society members (as per 2011 RBI circular)

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/452 · issued 29 Mar 2011 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI allows Urban Co-operative Banks to collect account payee cheques up to ₹50,000 for co-operative credit societies, provided the proceeds go only to the payee member. Banks must obtain a written undertaking, follow KYC norms, and sign an agreement with the society.

What changed

As per a 2011 RBI circular, UCBs were previously prohibited from collecting account payee cheques for anyone other than the payee. The circular now allows collection for co-operative credit societies up to ₹50,000, subject to safeguards.

What it means for you

This eases collection difficulties for co-operative credit society members who lack bank accounts. Banks must ensure the society undertakes to credit proceeds only to the payee member, and must comply with KYC and the Negotiable Instruments Act. Banks remain liable if the true owner claims the cheque.

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

Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Co-operative credit societies, Members of co-operative credit societies without bank accounts

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

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

What is the maximum cheque amount allowed under this circular?

The circular allows collection of account payee cheques up to ₹50,000 only.

Can the proceeds be credited to the society's account instead of the payee member?

No. The bank must obtain a written undertaking from the society that proceeds will be credited only to the account of the member who is the payee named in the cheque.

What happens if the true owner of the cheque claims it later?

The bank must prove it acted in good faith and without negligence while collecting the cheque. The rights of the true owner are not affected by this circular.

📜 This document’s life story (1 recorded event, each backed by RBI’s own words)
Repealed by RBI/2025-26/100 — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)
RBI’s words: “Official withdrawal register entry #1544: UBD.BPD.No.41/12.05.001/2010-11 — "Collection account payee cheques – Prohibition on crediting proceeds to third party accounts" dated March 29, 2011”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2010-11/452 UBD. BPD. No. 41/12.05.001/2010-11 March 29, 2011 The Chief Executive Officers All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks Dear Sir, Collection of account payee cheques – Prohibition on crediting proceeds to third party accounts Please refer to circular UBD.BPD. Cir. No. 30/14.01.062/2005-06 dated January 30, 2006 advising UCBs that they should not collect cheques crossed “account payee” for any person other than the payee constituent. 2.  It has been brought to our notice that since co-operative credit societies are not even sub-members of clearing houses, members of such co-operative credit societies who do not have bank accounts face difficulties in collection of account payee cheques drawn in their name. With a view to mitigating the difficulties faced by the members of co-operative credit societies in collection of account payee cheques, it is clarified that collecting banks may consider collecting account payee cheques drawn for an amount not exceeding Rs.50,000/- to the account of their customers who are co-operative credit societies, if the payees of such cheques are the constituents of such co-operative credit societies. While collecting the cheques as aforesaid, banks should obtain a clear undertaking in writing from the co-operative credit societies concerned that, upon realization, the proceeds of the cheques will be credited only to the account of the member of the co-operative credit society who is the payee named in the cheque. This shall, however, be subject to the fulfillment of the requirements of the provisions of Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, including Section 131 thereof. 3.  The collecting bank shall subject the society to the usual KYC norms and enter into an agreement with the society that the KYC documents in respect of the society’s customers are preserved in the society's records and are available to the bank for scrutiny.  The collecting banks should, however, be aware that in the event of a claim by the true owner of the cheque, the rights of the true owner of the cheque are not in any manner affected by this circular and banks will have to establish that they acted in good faith and without negligence while collecting the cheque in question. 4. Please acknowledge receipt of this circular to the Regional Office of Urban Banks Department concerned. Yours faithfully (Uma Shankar) Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/452 · issued 29 Mar 2011. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=6312&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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