HomeCirculars › RBI/2025-26/147

RBI Tightens Rules for Cash Credit, Current, and Overdraft Accounts at Rural Co-op Banks

Co-operative Banks
Quick answerRBI has amended its Credit Risk Management Directions for Rural Co-operative Banks, introducing a new framework for Cash Credit, Current, and Overdraft accounts. For customers with aggregate banking system exposure of ₹10 crore or more, a bank may maintain current or overdraft accounts only if it holds at least a 10% share in the aggregate exposure or in the aggregate fund-based exposure.

What changed

RBI inserted definitions for Cash Credit, Current Account, and Overdraft in Paragraph 4 of the Directions. A new Chapter VIA was added, mandating that for customers with total banking system exposure of ₹10 crore or more, a bank can only maintain current or overdraft accounts if it holds at least a 10% share in that aggregate exposure.

What it means for you

Rural Co-operative Banks must now monitor their share in a borrower's total banking exposure before opening or maintaining current/overdraft accounts for larger customers. This aims to prevent credit leakage and improve fund utilisation tracking. Banks with smaller exposure shares may need to restructure or exit such accounts.

What you must do

Who it affects

Rural Co-operative Banks (State and Central Co-operative Banks), Credit departments of co-operative banks, Borrowers with aggregate banking exposure of ₹10 crore or more

What is the new 10% share requirement?

For customers with total banking system exposure of ₹10 crore or more, a Rural Co-operative Bank can maintain a current or overdraft account only if it holds at least a 10% share in that aggregate exposure or in the aggregate fund-based exposure.

Does this apply to Cash Credit accounts?

No, Cash Credit accounts are not subject to the restrictions under this Chapter. They can be maintained as per customer needs without any limitation under this Chapter.

What is included in 'banking system' for this rule?

It includes Commercial Banks (except Payments Banks), Small Finance Banks, Local Area Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Urban Co-operative Banks, and Rural Co-operative Banks.

Key dataSee the live numbers behind this topic: RBI Penalty Tracker, NPA / Asset-Quality Tracker — updated from official RBI data.
Key termsPlain-English definitions of terms in this circular — see the full Indian banking glossary. KYC / AML · Gross NPA (GNPA) · Deposit insurance (DICGC) · Scheduled Commercial Bank (SCB)
Official source: RBI/2025-26/147 on rbi.org.in ↗
AI-drafted · 3-model AI consensus fact-check · under the editorial review of Vikram Jain · published · 19 Jun 2026, 02:10 IST