Interest on Frozen/Seized Public Deposits: NBFC Procedure
No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/121 · issued 04 Jul 2013 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI has clarified how NBFCs must handle interest on public deposits that are frozen or seized by enforcement authorities. Renew the deposit on maturity with customer consent, pay overdue interest per policy if delay exceeds 14 days, and release principal and interest only after government clearance.
What changed
RBI inserted clause (10A) into the Non-Banking Financial Companies Acceptance of Public Deposits (Reserve Bank) Directions, 1998, via Notification No. DNBS 258/CGM (CRS)-2013 dated July 04, 2013, specifying a procedure for deposits seized or frozen by government authorities. Previously, there was ambiguity on interest payment for such deposits. The new clause mandates obtaining a renewal request from the customer, renewing for the original term if no choice is given, and holding interest in a separate sub-account until government clearance.
What it means for you
NBFCs now have a clear, compliant path to handle interest on deposits under government seizure or freeze. They must actively communicate with customers and authorities, and cannot release funds without clearance. This reduces legal risk and ensures uniform treatment across the sector.
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
Obtain a written renewal request from the depositor at maturity, asking them to specify the renewal term.
If the depositor does not choose a term, renew for the original term and note it in the deposit ledger without issuing a new receipt.
Advise the concerned government department via registered post/speed post/courier about the renewal, and inform the depositor of the renewed interest rate.
If the overdue period on the request date exceeds 14 days, pay interest for the overdue period as per your policy and keep it in a separate interest-free sub-account.
Release principal and accrued interest only after obtaining clearance from the respective government agency.
Who it affects
All NBFCs accepting public deposits, Depositors whose deposits are seized or frozen by enforcement authorities, Government enforcement agencies dealing with such deposits
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-18 14:02 IST
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).
What if the depositor doesn't specify a renewal term?
Renew the deposit for a term equal to the original term. No new receipt is needed, but make a note in the deposit ledger.
When can we release the principal and interest?
Only after obtaining clearance from the respective government agency. The interest accrued during the overdue period must be kept in a separate interest-free sub-account until then.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2013-14/121
DNBS.PD/CC.No.350/03.02.001/2013-14
July 04, 2013
All NBFCs
Dear Sirs,
Payment of interest on overdue public deposits
Kindly refer to clause (10) of paragraph 4 of Non-Banking Financial Companies Acceptance of Public Deposits (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2007. NBFCs are at times required to freeze the term deposits of customer based on the orders of the enforcement authorities or the deposit receipts are seized by the enforcement authorities. As doubts have been raised on the payment of interest on such deposit which have either been seized by the government authorities, and/or have been frozen till further clearance is received by the concerned government authorities, the NBFCs are advised to follow the procedure mentioned below:
A request letter may be obtained from the customer on maturity. While obtaining the request letter from the depositor for renewal, NBFCs should also advise him to indicate the term for which the deposit is to be renewed. In case the depositor does not exercise his option of choosing the term for renewal, NBFCs may renew the same for a term equal to the original term
No new receipt is required to be issued. However, suitable note may be made regarding renewal in the deposit ledger
Renewal of deposit may be advised by registered letter / speed post / courier service to the concerned Government department under advice to the depositor. In the advice to the depositor, the rate of interest at which the deposit is renewed should also be mentioned.
If overdue period does not exceed 14 days on the date of receipt of the request letter, renewal may be done from the date of maturity. If it exceeds 14 days, NBFCs may pay interest for the overdue period as per the policy adopted by them, and keep it in a separate interest free sub-account which should be released when the original fixed deposit is released
However the final repayment of the principal and the interest so accrued should be done only after the clearance regarding the same is obtained by the NBFCs from the respective Government agencies.
2. Copy of Amending Notification No. DNBS 258/CGM (CRS)-2013 dated July 04, 2013 is enclosed for meticulous compliance.
Yours faithfully,
(C.R. Samyuktha)
Chief General Manager
RESERVE BANK OF INDIA
DEPARTMENT OF NON-BANKING SUPERVISION
CENTRAL OFFICE
CENTRE I, WORLD TRADE CENTRE,
CUFFE PARADE, COLABA,
MUMBAI, 400 005.
Notification No.DNBS(PD). 258/ CGM (CRS) 2013 dated July 04, 2013
The Reserve Bank of India, having considered it necessary in public interest and being satisfied that, for the purpose of enabling the Bank to regulate the credit system to the advantage of the country, it is necessary to amend "Non-Banking Financial Companies Acceptance of Public Deposits (Reserve Bank) Directions, 1998". contained in Notification No. DFC.118/DG(SPT)-98 dated January 31, 1998, in exercise of the powers conferred by Sections 45J, 45K and 45L of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934) and of all the powers enabling it in this behalf, hereby directs that the said Directions shall be amended as follows,
In clause (10) of para 4, under the title, ‘Payment of interest on overdue public deposits’, the following may be inserted as clause (10A),
‘(10A) In regard to the payment of interest on such deposit which have either been seized by the government authorities, and/or have been frozen till further clearance is received by the concerned government authorities, the NBFCs are advised to follow the procedure mentioned below:
A request letter may be obtained from the customer on maturity. While obtaining the request letter from the depositor for renewal, NBFCs should also advise him to indicate the term for which the deposit is to be renewed. In case the depositor does not exercise his option of choosing the term for renewal, NBFCs may renew the same for a term equal to the original term
No new receipt is required to be issued. However, suitable note may be made regarding renewal in the deposit ledger
Renewal of deposit may be advised by registered letter / speed post / courier service to the concerned Government department under advice to the depositor. In the advice to the depositor, the rate of interest at which the deposit is renewed should also be mentioned.
If overdue period does not exceed 14 days on the date of receipt of the request letter, renewal may be done from the date of maturity. If it exceeds 14 days, NBFCs may pay interest for the overdue period as per the policy adopted by them, and keep it in a separate interest free sub-account which should be released when the original fixed deposit is released
However the final repayment of the principal and the interest so accrued should be done only after the clearance regarding the same is obtained by the NBFCs from the respective Government agencies.’
(C. R. Samyuktha)
Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/121 · issued 04 Jul 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=8212&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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