No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2021-22/97 · issued 09 Sep 2021 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI now allows foreign bank branches in India to use specific funds held with RBI as credit risk mitigation for non-centrally cleared derivative exposures to their Head Office, subject to conditions like auditor certification and disclosure.
What changed
RBI permitted Indian branches of foreign banks to reckon cash or unencumbered approved securities from interest-free HO funds or retained surplus as CRM for offsetting gross exposure to HO under LEF. These funds must be over and above other regulatory requirements, excluded from regulatory capital, and certified by statutory auditors. Derivative contracts executed before April 1, 2019 can be excluded from exposure computation.
What it means for you
Foreign banks can now reduce their LEF exposure to HO by using specific funds held under Section 11(2)(b)(i) as CRM, easing capital constraints. Banks must ensure these funds are not double-counted as capital and maintain continuous compliance, with annual undertakings to RBI. This provides a clearer framework for managing derivative exposures while maintaining prudential safeguards.
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
Identify and segregate funds from HO interest-free sources or retained surplus held under Section 11(2)(b)(i) for CRM designation.
Get statutory auditor certification that these funds are over and above other regulatory/statutory requirements.
Submit annual undertaking to DoS, RBI by March 31 confirming continuous maintenance of CRM-eligible funds.
Disclose the CRM amount in Schedule 1 of the balance sheet with prescribed note.
Ensure derivative contracts before April 1, 2019 are excluded from HO exposure computation if applicable.
Who it affects
Indian branches of foreign banks, Scheduled commercial banks (excluding RRBs) with foreign bank branches, Statutory auditors of foreign bank branches, RBI Department of Supervision
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-18 07:30 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).
Can we use any funds held under Section 11(2) as CRM?
No, only cash or unencumbered approved securities from interest-free HO funds or remittable surplus retained in Indian books (reserves) are eligible, and they must be over and above other regulatory requirements.
Do we need to report the CRM amount separately?
Yes, disclose it in Schedule 1: Capital with a specific note stating the amount designated as CRM and that it is not reckoned for regulatory capital or other statutory requirements.
What about old derivative contracts?
Derivative contracts executed before April 1, 2019 can be excluded when computing derivative exposures to HO, as per the circular.
📜 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)
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2021-22/97
DOR.CRE.REC.47/21.01.003/2021-22
September 09, 2021
All Scheduled Commercial Banks
(Excluding Regional Rural Banks)
Dear Sir/Madam,
Large Exposures Framework – Credit Risk Mitigation (CRM) for offsetting – non-centrally cleared derivative transactions of foreign bank branches in India with their Head Office
Please refer to circular No.DBR.No.BP.BC.43/21.01.003/2018-19 dated June 03, 2019 on Large Exposures Framework (LEF).
2. It is advised that the Indian branches of foreign banks shall be permitted to reckon cash/unencumbered approved securities, the source of which is interest-free funds from Head Office or remittable surplus retained in Indian books (reserves), held with RBI under 11(2)(b)(i) of the Banking Regulation Act,1949 (‘BR Act’) as CRM, for offsetting the gross exposure of the foreign bank branches in India to the Head Office (including overseas branches) for the calculation of LEF limit, subject to the following conditions:
The amount so held shall be over and above the other regulatory and statutory requirements and shall be certified by the statutory auditors.
The amount so held shall not be included in regulatory capital. (i.e., no double counting of the fund placed under Section 11(2) as both capital and CRM). Accordingly, while assessing the capital adequacy of a bank, the amount will form part of regulatory adjustments made to Common Equity Tier 1 Capital.
The bank shall furnish an undertaking as on March 31 every year to the Department of Supervision (DoS), RBI that the balance reckoned as CRM for the purpose will be maintained on a continuous basis.
The CRM shall be compliant with the principles/conditions prescribed in paragraph 7 in the Master Circular – Basel III Capital Regulations dated July 1, 2015 as amended from time to time.
3. The amount held under section 11(2)(b)(i) of the BR Act and earmarked as CRM shall be disclosed by way of a note in Schedule 1: Capital to the Balance Sheet as given below:
“An amount of ₹… (previous year: ₹…. ) out of the amount held as deposit under Section 11(2) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 has been designated as credit risk mitigation (CRM) for offsetting of non-centrally cleared derivative exposures to Head Office (including overseas branches), and is not reckoned for regulatory capital and any other statutory requirements.”
4. Excess amount over and above the CRM requirements shall be permitted to be withdrawn subject to certification by the Statutory Auditor and approval of the DoS, RBI. It may be noted that the onus of compliance with the LEF limit at all times shall be on the bank.
5. It has been decided to permit foreign banks to exclude derivative contracts executed prior to April 1, 2019 while computing the derivative exposures on their Head Office (including overseas branches).
Yours faithfully,
(Manoranjan Mishra)
Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2021-22/97 · issued 09 Sep 2021. 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=12160&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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