Bank Rate Cut by 50 bps to 9.0% for RRBs and Co-op Banks
No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/317 · issued 08 Oct 2013 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI cut the Bank Rate by 50 bps to 9.0% effective October 7, 2013. This directly lowers penal interest rates on reserve shortfalls for RRBs and cooperative banks, reducing their cost of compliance.
What changed
The Bank Rate was reduced from 9.5% to 9.0%, a 50 basis point cut effective October 7, 2013. Consequently, penal interest rates on reserve requirement shortfalls, which are linked to the Bank Rate, were also revised downward by the same margin.
What it means for you
For RRBs and cooperative banks, this reduces the penalty burden for failing to maintain required reserves. The lower penal rates—now 12.0% or 14.0% depending on shortfall duration—ease liquidity pressure and improve net interest margins for lenders facing temporary reserve gaps.
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 internal systems to reflect the new Bank Rate of 9.0% and revised penal rates (12.0% and 14.0%).
Communicate the rate change to treasury and compliance teams handling reserve maintenance.
Review any loan or product pricing linked to the Bank Rate for necessary adjustments.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your respective RBI Regional Office.
Who it affects
All Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), State and Central Co-operative Banks (StCBs/CCBs)
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Stated effective dateeffective October 7, 2013
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-18 12:18 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).
What is the new Bank Rate effective from October 7, 2013?
The Bank Rate has been reduced by 50 basis points from 9.5% to 9.0%.
How do the revised penal interest rates work?
Penal rates on reserve shortfalls are now Bank Rate plus 3.0 percentage points (12.0%) or Bank Rate plus 5.0 percentage points (14.0%), depending on the duration of the shortfall.
Do I need to take any action for this circular?
Yes, acknowledge receipt to your RBI Regional Office and update your internal systems and pricing models that reference the Bank Rate.
📜 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)
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/317 · issued 08 Oct 2013. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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=8500&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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