HomeCirculars › RBI/2011-12/394

RBI Updates AML/CFT Standards for Payment System Operators

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/394 · issued 09 Feb 2012 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI directs all PSS Act-authorized payment system operators to consider FATF's updated October 2011 statement on AML/CFT risks from certain jurisdictions, without blocking legitimate trade.

What changed

RBI issued a circular on February 9, 2012, referencing earlier August 2011 advisories on AML/CFT deficiencies. It now requires operators to factor in FATF's updated October 28, 2011 statement, which was enclosed with the circular.

What it means for you

Payment system operators must stay alert to evolving international AML/CFT standards and adjust their risk assessments accordingly. The circular clarifies that these updates do not prohibit legitimate business with the listed jurisdictions, so lenders can continue normal trade relationships while enhancing due diligence.

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 payment system operators authorized under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, Nodal officers and principal officers of these operators

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

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

Does this circular ban transactions with certain countries?

No, it explicitly states that it does not preclude legitimate trade and business transactions with the jurisdictions mentioned in FATF's statement.

What should I do with the enclosed FATF statement?

You must consider the information in the statement when updating your AML/CFT policies and ensure your nodal officer acknowledges receipt of the circular.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2011-12/394 DPSS. CO. AD. No 1425/02.27.005/2011-12 February 9, 2012 Chief Executive Officers of All the Payment System Operators Authorised under the PSS Act, 2007 Dear Sir Anti- Money Laundering (AML) / Combating of Financing of Terrorism (CFT)- Standards Please refer to our circulars DPSS.CO.AD.No .313 and 314 /02.27.005/2011-12 dated August 18, 2011 on risk arising from the deficiencies in AML/CFT regime of certain jurisdictions. 2. Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has updated its Statement on October 28, 2011 on the subject ( copy enclosed ). 3. All the Payment System Operators authorised under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 are accordingly advised to consider the information contained in the enclosed Statement. 4. This, however, does not preclude Payment System Operators from legitimate trade and business transactions with these countries and jurisdictions. 5. Please advise Nodal Officer/Principal Officer to acknowledge receipt of this circular. Yours faithfully (K  C Anand ) Deputy General Manager Encl: As above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/394 · issued 09 Feb 2012. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
🧰 Tools — save, print, templates & related
Topics: Digital Payments / UPI
Key dataSee the live numbers behind this topic: RBI Penalty Tracker, Credit & Deposit Growth — updated from official RBI data.
Key termsPlain-English definitions of terms in this circular — see the full Indian banking glossary. UPI · KYC / AML · Deposit insurance (DICGC) · NEFT / RTGS

💬 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.

Loading comments…
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=6999&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.
Public beta — plain-English informational summaries. Always verify against the official RBI source (circular number cited on every page) before making compliance, credit, treasury, audit, or operational decisions. · Join our WhatsApp channel ↗