Home › Circulars › RBI/2022-23/33

RBI Bans Honorary Board Titles in Urban Co-op Banks

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No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet

Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2022-23/33 · issued 21 Apr 2022 · ~2 min read

Quick answerRBI has directed all Urban Co-operative Banks to stop creating honorary board-level titles like Chairman Emeritus, as they create shadow authority and conflicts of interest. Existing such positions must be eliminated within one year from April 21, 2022.

What changed

RBI observed that some UCBs were conferring honorary designations at board level, such as Chairman Emeritus or Group Chairman, which are not recognized in statutes or regulations. These positions can create conflicts of interest and parallel authority, undermining the legally constituted board. RBI now prohibits creation of any such non-statutory titles and mandates removal of existing ones within one year.

What it means for you

UCBs must immediately stop appointing honorary board-level positions and review any existing ones for elimination within the deadline. This ensures clear accountability and prevents shadow governance structures. Banks should update their board charters and governance policies to comply, avoiding regulatory action under the Banking Regulation Act.

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

Cease creation of any honorary board-level titles like Chairman Emeritus or Group Chairman immediately.
Identify and list all existing honorary board positions within your UCB.
Eliminate all such non-statutory titles within one year from April 21, 2022.
Update board governance policies to explicitly prohibit such designations.
Ensure board meetings and materials are restricted to legally constituted members only.

Who it affects

All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Board members and chairpersons of UCBs, Compliance and governance teams in UCBs

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

Decoded by BankPulse 2026-06-18 06:18 IST
repealed_by — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)
Status change: withdrawn 03 Aug 2026, 04:00 IST

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

What exactly does RBI consider an honorary board-level title?

Examples include Chairman Emeritus, Group Chairman, or any similar designation not recognized in banking statutes or regulations, whether remunerated or not.

What is the deadline to remove existing honorary positions?

UCBs must eliminate all such existing titles within one year from the circular date, i.e., by April 21, 2023.

What happens if a UCB does not comply?

RBI has issued these directions under Section 35A and Section 36(1)(d) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, so non-compliance may invite supervisory action or penalties.

📜 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 #245: DOR.GOV.REC.No.26/18.10.004/2022-23 — "Creation of Honorary Designations at Board Level in Urban Co-operative Banks" dated April 21, 2022”

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI

Notifications - Reserve Bank of India Skip to main content Selected Selected Change Language हिंदी Search the Website Search Home About Us ▼ About Us Organisation & Functions ▶ Organisation Structure Departments Offices Training Establishment ▶ College of Agricultural Banking Reserve Bank Staff College College of Supervisors RBI's Functions and Working Governors Deputy Governors Executive Directors Communication Policy of RBI Sources of Information ▶ Annual Publications Half-yearly Publications Quarterly Publications Monthly Publications Weekly Publications Occasional Publications SDDS NSDP Data Releases Publications available on Subscription General Information RBI History Museum ▶ The RBI Museum RBI Monetary Museum Notification ▼ Notifications Master Directions Master Circulars Amendment Directions Draft Notifications/Guidelines ▶ Draft Notifications/Guidelines Draft Directions (RE-wise) Index To RBI Circulars Standalone Circulars Circulars Withdrawn Press Releases Speeches & Media Interactions ▼ Speeches Media Interactions Memorial Lectures Podcasts Publications ▼ Biennial Annual Half-Yearly Quarterly Bi-monthly Monthly Weekly Occasional Reports Working Papers Legal Framework ▼ Act Rules Regulations Schemes Research ▼ External Research Schemes RBI Occasional Papers Working Papers RBI Bulletin History DRG Studies KLEMS State Statistics and Finances Statistics ▼ Data Releases Database on Indian Economy Public Debt Statistics Regulatory Reporting ▼ List of Returns Data Definition Validation rules/ Taxonomy List of RBI Reporting Portals FAQs of RBI Reporting Portals Home Notifications Notifications ( 781 kb ) Creation of Honorary Designations at Board level in Urban Co-operative Banks RBI/2022-23/33 DOR.GOV.REC.No.26/18.10.004/2022-23 April 21, 2022 The Chairman / Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks Madam/Dear Sir, Creation of Honorary Designations at Board level in Urban Co-operative Banks It has been observed during the course of supervisory reviews that some of the Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) have adopted the practice of creating honorary designations (remunerated or otherwise)/conferring titles at Board level, such as Chairman Emeritus, Group Chairman, etc., which are not recognised in applicable statutes or regulations. 2. While such positions/titles may be indicative of certain privileges/rights for the incumbent to access all board materials and participate in board/committee meetings, enforcing liability or obligations on such person may be difficult. Such positions may be seen as creating conflicts of interest as well as creation of a parallel or shadow authority impeding effective and independent functioning of the legally constituted board in the best interest of all its stakeholders. 3. As such, UCBs are directed not to create any honorary positions/titles at Board level or confer such titles that are non-statutory in nature and to eliminate any such existing position/titles within one year from date of this circular. 4. These directions are issued under Section 35A and Section 36(1)(d) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (AACS). Yours faithfully, (Shrimohan Yadav) Chief General Manager 2026 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2025 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2024 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2023 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2022 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2021 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2020 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2019 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2018 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2017 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December Archives 2016 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2015 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2014 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2013 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2012 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2011 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2010 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2009 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2008 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2007 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2006 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2005 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2004 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2003 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2002 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2001 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2000 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 1999 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 1998 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 1997 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 1996 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 1995 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 1994 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 1993 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 1992 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 1991 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December Top Back to previous page More Links : Bank Holidays Banking Glossary Citizen's Charter Complaints Contact Us COVID-19 Measures E-LMS Events FAQs Financial Education Forms IFSC/MICR Codes Important Websites Opportunities @ RBI RBI Clarifications RBI Kehta Hai RBI’s Vision and Values (1257 kb)--> Right to Information Act Tenders Follow RBI RSS Twitter YouTube Instagram Facebook LinkedIn &copy; Reserve Bank of India. 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Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2022-23/33 · issued 21 Apr 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=12299&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.