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RBI assigns SBI as Lead Bank for Assam's new Hojai district

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2023-24/123 · issued 20 Feb 2024 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI has designated State Bank of India as the Lead Bank for the newly formed Hojai district in Assam, effective from the district's notification in September 2023. No other district lead banks in Assam are affected.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

A branch manager at SBI in Hojai district will now work closely with other banks in the area to develop a district credit plan, ensuring that all banking services and financial inclusion efforts are coordinated and effective. This will involve regular meetings with other bank representatives to align their strategies with SBI's lead bank functions. By doing so, the branch manager will play a key role in promoting financial development in the newly formed Hojai district.

What changed

The Government of Assam created a new district called Hojai via a gazette notification on September 7, 2023. RBI has now assigned State Bank of India as the Lead Bank for this district, with a new district working code of 409. Lead bank responsibilities for all other districts in Assam remain unchanged.

What it means for you

SBI must now coordinate banking services, financial inclusion efforts, and credit planning in Hojai district. Other banks operating in Hojai will need to align with SBI's lead bank functions. This is a routine administrative update that does not alter any regulatory requirements.

What you must do

Who it affects

State Bank of India (lead bank for Hojai), All banks with operations in Hojai district, Assam, RBI's Financial Inclusion and Development Department

❓ Common questions

When was Hojai district officially formed?

The Government of Assam notified the formation of Hojai district on September 7, 2023, through a gazette notification.

Does this change affect lead banks for other districts in Assam?

No, the RBI circular explicitly states there is no change in the Lead Banks of other districts in Assam.

What is the district working code assigned to Hojai?

The district working code for Hojai is 409, as per the RBI notification.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2023-24/123 FIDD.CO.LBS.BC.No.15/02.08.001/2023-24 February 20, 2024 The Chairman / Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer Lead Banks Concerned Madam/ Dear Sir, Formation of new district in the State of Assam – Assignment of Lead Bank Responsibility The Government of Assam has notified formation of a new district, viz., Hojai in the state of Assam vide Gazette Notification ECF.No.367433/28 dated September 07, 2023. Accordingly, it has been decided to designate the Lead Bank of the new district as below: Sr No
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2023-24/123 · issued 20 Feb 2024. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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Who does what — compliance checklist
🏦 Branch Manager
  • All banks with branches in Hojai should coordinate with SBI's lead bank office for district credit plans and financial inclusion targets.
📜 Compliance
  • If you are SBI's lead bank team for Assam, update internal records to include Hojai district with working code 409.
  • No action needed for banks in other Assam districts as lead bank assignments remain unchanged.
Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.
Worked example & action-note template

Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (State Bank of India (lead bank for Hojai), All banks with operations in Hojai district, Assam, RBI's Financial Inclusion and Development Department), your first concrete step on “RBI assigns SBI as Lead Bank for Assam's new Hojai district” is: “If you are SBI's lead bank team for Assam, update internal records to include Hojai district with working code 409.” (RBI issued this 20 Feb 2024).

  1. Circular: RBI/2023-24/123 -- RBI assigns SBI as Lead Bank for Assam's new Hojai district
  2. Issued: 20 Feb 2024
  3. Action required: If you are SBI's lead bank team for Assam, update internal records to include Hojai district with working code 409.
  4. Action required: All banks with branches in Hojai should coordinate with SBI's lead bank office for district credit plans and financial inclusion targets.
  5. Action required: No action needed for banks in other Assam districts as lead bank assignments remain unchanged.
  6. Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
  7. Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
  8. Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
Built only from this circular’s own published fields — not legal advice; always confirm against the official RBI source.

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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=12609&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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