HomeCirculars › RBI/2011-12/256

RRBs: No Crediting Account Payee Cheques to Third Parties

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/256 · issued 11 Nov 2011 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI reiterates that RRBs must not credit account payee cheques to anyone other than the named payee. A limited relaxation for cooperative credit societies (cheques up to Rs 50,000) continues. These rules also apply to drafts, pay orders, and bankers' cheques.

What changed

RBI issued a reminder to RRBs about the existing prohibition on crediting account payee cheques to third-party accounts, citing non-adherence concerns. The circular reaffirms the earlier instructions from April 2006 and the relaxation for cooperative credit societies from October 2010. It also clarifies that the same rules apply to drafts, pay orders, and bankers' cheques.

What it means for you

RRBs must tighten internal controls to ensure account payee instruments are not misrouted to unintended accounts, reducing fraud risk. The continued relaxation for cooperative credit societies up to Rs 50,000 provides a limited exception, but RRBs must enforce strict compliance to avoid regulatory action. This reinforces the importance of KYC and payee verification in cheque collection processes.

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 Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Cooperative credit societies (beneficiaries of the relaxation), RRB customers who issue or receive account payee cheques

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

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

Can an RRB credit an account payee cheque to a third party's account?

No, RRBs are strictly prohibited from crediting account payee cheques to anyone other than the payee named on the instrument, as per RBI instructions since 2006.

Is there any exception to this rule for cooperative credit societies?

Yes, RRBs may collect account payee cheques up to Rs 50,000 for cooperative credit societies if the payee is a constituent of that society, subject to conditions in the October 2010 circular.

Do these rules apply to instruments other than cheques?

Yes, the prohibition and relaxation also extend to drafts, pay orders, and bankers' cheques.

📜 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 #1416: RPCD.CO.RRB.BC.No.30/03.05.33/2011-12 — "Collection of Account Payee Cheques - Prohibition on Crediting Proceeds to Third Party Account" dated November 11, 20”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2011-12/256 RPCD.CO.RRB.BC.No. 30 /03.05.33/2011-12   November 11, 2011 The Chairmen All Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) Dear Sir, Collection of Account Payee Cheques - Prohibition on Crediting Proceeds to Third Party Account Please refer to our circular RPCD. CO. RF. BC. No. 78 / 07.38.03 / 2005-06 dated April 27, 2006 in terms of which RRBs are prohibited from crediting 'account payee' cheque to the account of any person other than the payee named therein. 2. In view of concerns raised that these instructions are not being adhered to, we reiterate that banks shall strictly adhere to the instructions contained in our circular referred to above and not collect account payee cheques for any person other than the payee constituent. 3. With a view to mitigating the difficulties faced by the members of co-operative credit societies in collection of account payee cheques, relaxation was extended vide our circular RPCD.CO.RRB.BC.No.25/03.05.33/2010-11 dated October 19, 2010 . In terms of the said circular, RRBs 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. The above relaxation will continue as hitherto, subject to the conditions outlined in the circular dated October 19, 2010 referred to above. 4. RRBs may note that the above prohibition and relaxation shall also extend to drafts, pay orders and bankers’ cheques. 5. Please acknowledge the receipt of the circular to our Regional Office concerned. Yours faithfully, (C.D.Srinivasan) Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/256 · issued 11 Nov 2011. 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=6810&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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