UCBs: Submit Annual Business Plan in Single Copy Only
No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/506 · issued 24 May 2013 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI has simplified submission of Annual Business Plans (ABP) for Financially Sound and Well Managed (FSWM) Urban Co-operative Banks. Instead of two copies, banks now need to submit only one copy of the ABP to their Regional Office. All other branch expansion norms remain unchanged.
What changed
Earlier, FSWM UCBs had to submit their Annual Business Plan (ABP) for branch/extension counter/ATM proposals in duplicate along with annexes. This circular modifies that requirement: now only a single copy of the ABP needs to be submitted to the respective RBI Regional Office. All other existing guidelines on centre selection, approval, licensing, and procedural norms remain unchanged.
What it means for you
This is a minor procedural relaxation that reduces paperwork for UCBs. It does not alter any substantive approval criteria or expansion norms. Banks can expect faster processing due to reduced duplication, but must continue to comply with all other Master Circular instructions from July 2, 2012.
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
Update your internal ABP submission process to prepare only one copy instead of two.
Ensure all annexes (I, II, III-A, III-B, IV) are still attached as per earlier requirements.
Continue to follow all other branch/extension counter/ATM licensing and procedural guidelines from the July 2, 2012 Master Circular.
Who it affects
Financially Sound and Well Managed (FSWM) Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, RBI Regional Offices handling UCB supervision
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-18 15:31 IST
repealed_by — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)
Status change: withdrawn03 Aug 2026, 04:00 IST
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
Does this circular change any approval criteria for branch openings?
No. Only the submission format is simplified from duplicate to single copy. All other norms on centre selection, approval, licence period, and procedural guidelines remain unchanged as per the Master Circular dated July 2, 2012.
Which banks are covered under this relaxation?
Only Financially Sound and Well Managed (FSWM) Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks that are required to submit an Annual Business Plan for branch/extension counter/ATM proposals.
Do we still need to submit all the annexes mentioned in the earlier circular?
Yes. The circular only removes the requirement for duplicate copies. Annexes I, II, III-A, III-B, and IV must still be submitted with the single copy.
📜 This document’s life story (1 recorded event, each backed by RBI’s own words)
Repealed byRBI/2025-26/100 — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)
RBI’s words: “Official withdrawal register entry #1152: UBD.CO.LS.(PCB).Cir.No.50/07.01.000/2012-13 — "Annual Business Plan - Elimination of requirement to Submit Proposal in Duplicate" dated May 24, 2013”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2012-13/506
UBD.CO.LS.(PCB).Cir. No. 50/07.01.000/2012-13
May 24, 2013
Chief Executive Officers of
all Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks
Dear Sir / Madam,
Annual Business Plan – Elimination of requirement to submit proposal in duplicate
Please refer to our circular UBD.CO.LS.Cir.No.52/07.01.000/2007-08 dated June 16, 2008 where in Financially Sound and Well Managed (FSWM) UCBs were required to prepare Annual Business Plan (ABP) for opening of branches / extension counters, upgradation of extension counters into full fledged branches, setting up of new off site automated teller machines, in their existing area of operation and submit the ABP in duplicate along with Annexes I, II III-A, III-B and IV to the respective Regional Offices of Reserve Bank of India.
2. In partial modification of the circular cited above, the ABP proposals may be submitted to Reserve Bank of India in single copy only.
3. All other instructions on selection of centres, approval of centres, licence and its period, procedural guidelines for permission to open branches, norms for opening extension counters and licencing policy for Salary Earner’s banks contained in our Master Circular dated July 2, 2012 remain unchanged.
Please acknowledge receipt.
Yours faithfully,
(P. K. Arora)
General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/506 · issued 24 May 2013. 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=7994&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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