RBI Advises RRBs to Charge SMS Alerts on Actual Usage Basis
No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/458 · issued 22 Jan 2014 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI directs Regional Rural Banks to charge SMS alerts based on actual usage, not flat fees, ensuring fairness. Banks must leverage technology to implement this and follow principles for reasonable service charges.
What changed
RBI advised RRBs to charge SMS alerts on actual usage basis, as per the Second Quarter Review of Monetary Policy 2013-14. This replaces any flat or bundled fee structures. Banks are also required to adopt principles for reasonable service charges outlined in the annex.
What it means for you
RRBs can no longer levy uniform SMS alert charges; they must align fees with actual usage. This ensures equity for customers, especially in rural areas. Banks may need to upgrade systems to track usage accurately, potentially impacting operational costs.
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
Implement systems to charge SMS alerts based on actual usage per customer.
Review and revise service charge structures for basic banking services as per RBI principles.
Ensure online alerts for all card transactions regardless of amount, as per earlier circulars.
Communicate revised charges transparently to customers and acknowledge receipt to RBI regional office.
Who it affects
All Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), RRB customers using card transactions, RRB compliance and IT teams
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-18 10:59 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 apply to all SMS alerts or only card transactions?
The circular specifically references alerts for card transactions at various channels, and advises RRBs to charge based on actual usage for such alerts.
📜 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Repealed byRBI/2025-26/100 — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)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 #956: RPCD.CO.RRB.BC.No.78/03.05.33/2013-14 — "Ensuring Reasonableness of Bank Charges and Charges Levied for Sending SMS Alerts by Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)" date”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2013-14/458A
RPCD.CO.RRB.BC.No.78/03.05.33/2013-14
January 22, 2014
The Chairmen
All Regional Rural Banks
Dear Sir/Madam,
Ensuring Reasonableness of Bank Charges and Charges Levied for Sending SMS Alerts by Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)
Please refer to paragraph 37 of the Second Quarter Review of Monetary Policy Statements 2013-14 announced on October 29, 2013 ( extract enclosed ) on ‘Customer Service – Charges Levied by Banks for sending SMS alerts’. Regional Rural Banks are required to put in place a system of online alerts for all types of transactions, irrespective of the amounts, involving usage of cards at various channels in terms of circular RBI/DPSS.No.1501/02.14.003/2008-09 dated February 18, 2009 and DPSS.CO.PD.2224/02.14.003/2010-11 dated March 29, 2011 .
2. Considering the technology available with banks and the telecom service providers, it should be possible for RRBs to charge customers based on actual usage of SMS alerts. Accordingly, with a view to ensuring reasonableness and equity in the charges levied by RRBs for sending SMS alerts to customers, RRBs are advised to leverage the technology available with them and the telecom service providers to ensure that such charges are levied on all customers on actual usage basis.
3. Further, the principles to be adopted/followed by RRBs for ensuring reasonableness in fixing and communicating the service charges for the basic banking services are indicated in the Annex . RRBs are required to take action as stated in the column ‘Action Points for RRBs’.
4. Please acknowledge receipt to our Regional Office concerned.
Yours faithfully,
(A.Udgata)
Principal Chief General Manager
Extract from Second Quarter Review of Monetary Policy 2013-14
Customer Service - Charges Levied by Banks for Sending SMS Alerts
37. With a view to ensuring reasonableness and equity in the charges levied by banks for sending SMS alerts to customers, banks are advised to leverage the technology available with them and the telecom service providers to ensure that such charges are levied on all customers on actual usage basis.
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/458 · issued 22 Jan 2014. 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=8708&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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