Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/547 · issued 10 May 2012 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI has reduced the EEFC account retention limit from 100% to 50% of forex earnings. Existing balances above 50% must be converted to rupees within a fortnight. This aims to curb foreign currency asset holding and align with capital account convertibility norms.
The rule, in the simplest words
You can now keep only 50% of your foreign money (forex earnings) in a special bank account called EEFC; the other 50% must be changed into Indian rupees.
If you already have more than 50% in your EEFC account, you must change the extra amount into rupees within 15 days.
Before you buy any foreign money from the bank, you must first use up all the foreign money already sitting in your EEFC account.
This rule also applies to two other accounts: RFC (Resident Foreign Currency) and DDA (Diamond Dollar Account).
How it plays out — a real example
Priya, a forex & trade-finance officer in Mumbai, notices that one of her exporter customers has ₹10 lakh worth of US dollars in his EEFC account. She calls him to explain that under the new RBI rule, he can keep only 50% (₹5 lakh) and must convert the rest to rupees within 15 days. She also reminds him that next time he wants to buy dollars for imports, he must first use up whatever dollars remain in his EEFC account before she can sell him more.
What changed
Previously, all foreign exchange earners could retain 100% of their earnings in EEFC accounts. Now, only 50% can be retained; the rest must be converted to rupees. Existing balances exceeding 50% must be converted within 15 days. Also, EEFC holders must use their balances before accessing the forex market for purchases.
What it means for you
Banks must ensure customers convert excess EEFC balances to rupees promptly. This reduces foreign currency liquidity in the system and may increase demand for rupee conversion services. Lenders need to update systems and obtain declarations from customers before selling forex.
What you must do
Advise all EEFC account holders to convert balances above 50% to rupees within 15 days.
Update internal systems to cap future EEFC retention at 50% of forex earnings.
Obtain a declaration from customers before selling foreign exchange that they have fully utilized their EEFC balances.
Report compliance to RBI's Foreign Exchange Department, Central Office, Mumbai within the stipulated timeframe.
Communicate the changes to all relevant constituents, including RFC and DDA holders.
Who it affects
AD Category I banks, EEFC account holders (exporters, forex earners), RFC account holders, Diamond Dollar Account (DDA) holders
❓ Common questions
What is the new retention limit for EEFC accounts?
From now on, only 50% of forex earnings can be retained in an EEFC account. The remaining 50% must be converted to rupees.
What happens to existing EEFC balances above 50%?
Balances exceeding 50% must be converted to rupees and credited to the account holder's rupee account within a fortnight from the circular date.
Does this apply to RFC and Diamond Dollar Accounts?
Yes, the same 50% retention rule and usage conditions apply to RFC and DDA holders as well.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2011-12/547
A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 124
May 10, 2012
To
AD Category I Authorised Dealer Banks
Madam/ Sir,
Exchange Earner's Foreign Currency (EEFC) Account
Attention of Authorised Dealer Category - I (AD Category - I) banks is invited to A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.15 dated November 30, 2006 in terms of which all foreign exchange earners were permitted to retain 100% of their forex earnings in EEFC account with any AD in India.
2. On a review of the Scheme, it has been decided as under :-
a) 50% of the balances in the EEFC accounts should be converted forthwith into rupee balances and credited to the rupee accounts as per the directions of the account holder. This process may be completed within a fortnight from the date of the circular and compliance reported to the Chief General Manager, Foreign Exchange Department, Central Office, Trade Division, Amar Building, Sir P.M. Road, Fort, Mumbai 400 001
b) In respect of all future forex earnings, an exchange earner is eligible to retain 50% (as against the previous limit of 100%) in non-interest bearing EEFC accounts. The balance 50% shall be surrendered for conversion to rupee balances.
c) The facility of EEFC scheme is intended to enable exchange earners to save on conversion/transaction costs while undertaking forex transactions in future. This facility is not intended to enable exchange earners to maintain assets in foreign currency, as India is still not fully convertible on Capital Account. Accordingly, EEFC account holders henceforth will be permitted to access the forex market for purchasing foreign exchange only after utilising fully the available balances in the EEFC accounts. ADs may, accordingly, obtain a declaration while selling foreign exchange to their constituents.
3. It may be noted that the provisions at paragraph 2(b) and 2(c) above will apply, mutatis mutandis, also to holder of either a Resident Foreign Currency Account (RFC) or a Diamond Dollar Account (DDA).
4. AD Category - I banks may bring the contents of this circular to the notice of their constituents and customers concerned.
5. The directions contained in this circular have been issued under Sections 10(4) and 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999) and are without prejudice to permissions / approvals, if any, required under any other law.
Yours faithfully,
(Rashmi Fauzdar)
Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/547 · issued 10 May 2012. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Update internal systems to cap future EEFC retention at 50% of forex earnings.
📜 Compliance
Advise all EEFC account holders to convert balances above 50% to rupees within 15 days.
Obtain a declaration from customers before selling foreign exchange that they have fully utilized their EEFC balances.
Report compliance to RBI's Foreign Exchange Department, Central Office, Mumbai within the stipulated timeframe.
Communicate the changes to all relevant constituents, including RFC and DDA holders.
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 (AD Category I banks, EEFC account holders (exporters, forex earners), RFC account holders, Diamond Dollar Account (DDA) holders), your first concrete step on “EEFC Account: Retention Limit Reduced to 50%” is: “Advise all EEFC account holders to convert balances above 50% to rupees within 15 days.” (RBI issued this 10 May 2012).
Circular: RBI/2011-12/547 -- EEFC Account: Retention Limit Reduced to 50%
Issued: 10 May 2012
Action required: Advise all EEFC account holders to convert balances above 50% to rupees within 15 days.
Action required: Update internal systems to cap future EEFC retention at 50% of forex earnings.
Action required: Obtain a declaration from customers before selling foreign exchange that they have fully utilized their EEFC balances.
Action required: Report compliance to RBI's Foreign Exchange Department, Central Office, Mumbai within the stipulated timeframe.
Action required: Communicate the changes to all relevant constituents, including RFC and DDA holders.
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=7196&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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