HomeCirculars › RBI/2013-14/559

RBI Policy on Overseas Property Transactions by Banks

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/559 · issued 09 Apr 2014 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI mandates Indian banks with overseas offices to get board-approved policies for property sale/purchase and lease/rental, ensuring compliance with Indian laws (FEMA, BR Act) and host-country rules, plus an exit clause in lease agreements.

What changed

RBI observed lapses by some Indian banks in overseas real estate transactions. It now requires boards to lay down detailed operational guidelines and policies for such deals. The policy must include an exit clause in lease/rental agreements and ensure compliance with both Indian and host-country laws.

What it means for you

Banks must formalize their overseas property dealings with board-approved policies, reducing legal and financial risks. This adds compliance burden but protects banks from host-country legal pitfalls. Lenders need to review and update their internal guidelines for all future overseas real estate transactions.

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

Who it affects

All scheduled commercial Indian banks with overseas branches or offices, Bank boards and senior management responsible for overseas operations, Legal and compliance teams handling foreign real estate transactions

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).

Does this circular apply to all Indian banks or only those with overseas offices?

It applies specifically to all scheduled commercial Indian banks that have offices abroad, as stated in the circular's address.

What key clause must be included in lease/rental agreements?

The policy must require that agreements for acquiring or letting out premises on rental or lease basis incorporate a suitable exit clause.

Are banks required to comply with host-country laws?

Yes, banks must ensure compliance with all applicable laws of the host country, city, or locality for property transactions.

📜 This document’s life story (1 recorded event, each backed by RBI’s own words)
Repealed by RBI/2025-26/100 — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)
RBI’s words: “Official withdrawal register entry #932: DBOD.IBD.No.105/23.01.001/2013-14 — "Policy for Sale and Purchase of Property and Acquiring / letting out Property on Lease / Rental basis by Banks at their Ov”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2013-14/559 DBOD.IBD.No.105/23.01.001/2013-14 April 09, 2014 All Scheduled Commercial Indian banks having offices abroad Dear Sir, Policy for sale and purchase of property and acquiring/letting out property on lease/rental basis by banks at their overseas centres It has come to our notice that some Indian banks have committed certain lapses in purchase/sale of real estate as well as in acquiring/letting out property on lease/rental basis at some places in foreign countries. In order to avoid such lapses in future it is advised that Boards of Directors of banks should lay down policies and formulate detailed operational guidelines to protect the interest of their respective banks.The policy/guidelines should be compliant with the provisions of Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and other relevant Indian laws.The policy should, interalia, require the agreements for acquiring /letting out premises on rental/lease basis to incorporate a suitable exit clause. 2. While undertaking transactions in the nature of sale and purchase of property and acquiring/letting out property on lease/rental basis at overseas centres banks should also ensure that they comply with all the applicable laws of the host country /city or locality. 3. Banks should ensure that all the future transactions relating to purchase/sale of real estate as well as acquiring /letting out property on lease/rental basis at overseas centres are undertaken in accordance with the Board approved policy. Yours faithfully, (Rajesh Verma) Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/559 · issued 09 Apr 2014. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=8831&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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