No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2022-23/135 · issued 01 Nov 2022 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI has revised eligibility criteria for RRBs to offer transactional internet banking. Key requirements: full CBS and IPv6, CRAR compliance, net worth ₹50 crore+, net NPA ≤5%, net profit in last two years, no CRR/SLR default, clean compliance record, and CISA-approved internal controls.
What changed
RBI issued a new circular on November 1, 2022, amending the 2015 guidelines on internet banking for RRBs. The revised eligibility criteria now include specific thresholds: net worth of ₹50 crore or more, net NPA not exceeding 5%, net profit in the two preceding financial years, and no CRR/SLR default in the last year. Additionally, RRBs must have a CISA-qualified auditor-approved internal control system and a clean regulatory compliance record with no monetary penalty in the last two years.
What it means for you
RRBs must meet stricter financial and operational benchmarks to offer transactional internet banking, promoting digital banking in rural areas while ensuring stability. Banks with higher NPAs or weak profitability will be excluded, potentially limiting digital access for some customers. Lenders need to strengthen their CBS, IPv6 migration, and internal audit processes to qualify.
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
Assess your RRB's eligibility against the new criteria: net worth, NPA, profitability, CRR/SLR compliance, and penalty record.
Ensure full CBS implementation and IPv6 migration are completed before applying.
Engage a CISA-qualified independent auditor to certify your internal control system.
Submit application to the concerned RBI Regional Office through NABARD as per the 2015 circular.
Who it affects
All Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), NABARD, RBI Regional Offices, Customers of RRBs seeking internet banking
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-18 05:23 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 net worth requirement for RRBs to offer internet banking?
RRBs must have a net worth of ₹50 crore or more as on March 31 of the previous financial year.
Can an RRB with net NPA above 5% offer transactional internet banking?
No, the revised criteria require net NPA of not more than 5% as on March 31 of the previous financial year.
How should an RRB apply for internet banking approval?
The RRB must submit an application to the concerned RBI Regional Office through NABARD, following the process in the November 19, 2015 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)
RBI’s words: “Official withdrawal register entry #209: DoR.AUT.REC.81/24.01.001/2022-23 — "Eligibility Criteria for offering Internet Banking Facility by Regional Rural Banks, 2022@" dated November 1, 2022”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2022-23/135
DoR.AUT.REC.81/24.01.001/2022-23
November 01, 2022
Madam / Sir,
Eligibility Criteria for offering Internet Banking Facility by Regional Rural Banks, 2022
In exercise of the powers conferred by Sections 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, the Reserve Bank of India being satisfied that it is necessary and expedient in the public interest so to do, hereby, amends the instructions issued vide circular DBR.RRB.BC.No.59/31.01.001/2015-16 dated November 19, 2015 on ‘Internet Banking Facility for Customers of Regional Rural Banks’.
Keeping in view the need to promote the spread of digital banking for customers in rural areas, the eligibility criteria applicable to Regional Rural Banks for offering Internet Banking with transactional facility to their customers have been revised, the details of which are enclosed in the Annex .
2. Commencement
The circular comes into force from November 01, 2022.
3. Applicability
This circular is applicable to all Regional Rural Banks (RRBs).
(Prakash Baliarsingh)
Chief General Manager
Annex
Eligibility Criteria for offering Internet Banking Facility by Regional Rural Banks, 2022
The revised eligibility criteria to seek approval for providing Internet Banking with transactional facility by RRBs to their customers are as under:
Full implementation of Core Banking Solutions (CBS) and migration to IPv6.
Compliance with minimum prescribed CRAR requirement as applicable from time to time.
Net worth of ₹50 crore or more as on March 31 of the previous financial year.
Net NPA of not more than 5% as on March 31 of the previous financial year.
Net profit in the two immediately preceding financial years.
No instance of default in maintenance of CRR/SLR during the immediately preceding financial year.
The bank shall have a satisfactory track record of regulatory compliance and there shall be no instances of monetary penalty imposed for violation of RBI directives/guidelines during the two preceding financial years.
The bank shall have a sound internal control system approved by a CISA qualified independent auditor.
2. For extending internet banking services with transactional facility, RRBs fulfilling the above-mentioned criteria and other conditions prescribed in the circular dated November 19, 2015 on ‘Internet Banking Facility for Customers of Regional Rural Banks’, shall submit an application to the concerned Regional Office of RBI through NABARD as prescribed in the aforementioned circular.
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2022-23/135 · issued 01 Nov 2022. 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=12407&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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