RBI Know Your Customer Amendment Directions 2025 for Regional Rural Banks
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2025-26/162 · issued 29 Dec 2025 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI amends KYC Directions for Regional Rural Banks to clarify responsibility of entities uploading customer records to and downloading from CKYCR, based on an office memorandum from the Department of Revenue, Govt of India.
The rule, in the simplest words
The bank that last put or updated a customer's KYC (know your customer) records in the CKYCR (central KYC registry) is the one that must check the customer's identity and address.
If your bank downloads those records from the CKYCR and they are current and follow the rules, you do NOT have to re-check the customer's identity and address.
Your bank is still responsible for all other parts of the customer due diligence (CDD) process, like checking the customer's background and risk.
This rule applies to Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) starting from December 29, 2025.
How it plays out — a real example
A KYC & compliance officer in Indore at a Regional Rural Bank gets a new customer who already has KYC records in the CKYCR from another bank. The officer downloads those records, sees they are up-to-date, and does not re-verify the customer's identity or address. But she still checks the customer's loan purpose and income to complete the full customer due diligence, as the rule says she must.
What changed
RBI inserted an Explanation in paragraph 64 of the Directions stating that the RE that last uploaded or updated the customer's KYC records in CKYCR is responsible for verifying identity/address; banks downloading and relying on such records are not required to re-verify, provided records are current and compliant, but remain responsible for all other CDD aspects.
What it means for you
This amendment clarifies responsibilities for KYC procedures among Regional Rural Banks regarding CKYCR records, ensuring compliance with PML Act/Rules.
What you must do
Review and update KYC procedures to reflect the new responsibilities
Ensure that customer records are uploaded and downloaded correctly from CKYCR
Verify the identity and address of customers as per the amended Directions
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
What is the purpose of the RBI Know Your Customer Amendment Directions 2025?
The purpose is to clarify the responsibility of entities uploading customer records to and downloading the same from CKYCR, based on the office memorandum issued by the Department of Revenue, Govt of India.
What are the key changes in the amended Directions?
The RE that last uploaded or updated the customer's KYC records in CKYCR is responsible for verifying identity/address. Banks downloading and relying on such records are not required to re-verify, provided records are current and compliant, but remain responsible for all other CDD aspects.
What are the implications of non-compliance with the amended Directions?
Non-compliance may result in risks under the PML Act, 2002 and PML Rules, 2005.
📜 This document’s life story (3 recorded events, each backed by RBI’s own words)
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2025-26/162
DOR.AML.REC.366/14.01.004/2025-26
December 29, 2025
Reserve Bank of India (Regional Rural Banks – Know Your Customer) Amendment Directions, 2025
Reserve Bank had issued Reserve Bank of India (Regional Rural Banks – Know Your Customer) Directions, 2025 dated November 28, 2025 (hereinafter referred to as the Directions) in compliance of the provisions of the PML Act, 2002 and the Rules made thereunder. There is a need to amend the Directions to clarify the responsibility of entities uploading customer records to and downloading the same from CKYCR, based on the office memorandum (OM) titled “CKYCR and the ultimate responsibility of REs – reg.” issued by the Department of Revenue, Govt of India, dated September 18, 2025.
2. Accordingly, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, the Banking Regulation Act (AACS), 1949, read with section 56 of the Act ibid., section 10(2) read with section 18 of Payment and Settlement Systems Act 2007 (Act 51 of 2007), section 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, Rule 9(14) of the Prevention of Money-Laundering (Maintenance of Records) Rules, 2005, and all other enabling laws in this regard, the Reserve Bank being satisfied that it is necessary and expedient in the public interest so to do, hereby issues the Amendment Directions hereinafter specified.
3. Short Title and Commencement
(1) These Directions shall be called the Reserve Bank of India (Regional Rural Banks – Know Your Customer) Amendment Directions, 2025.
(2) These Directions shall come into force with immediate effect.
4. These Amendment Directions modify the Reserve Bank of India (Regional Rural Banks – Know Your Customer) Directions, 2025 as under:
(1) In paragraph 64, the following “Explanation” is being inserted after sub-paragraph (10):
“ Explanation: The RE that has last uploaded or updated the customer’s KYC records in the CKYCR shall be responsible for verifying the identity and / or address of the customer, as applicable. Accordingly, any bank downloading and relying on such records from the CKCYR shall not be required to re-verify the authenticity of the customer’s identity and / or address, provided the KYC records downloaded from CKYCR are current and compliant with the PML Act, 2002 / PML Rules, 2005. The bank downloading and relying on KYC records downloaded from the CKCYR shall remain responsible for all aspects of CDD procedure and provisions of these Directions, except verification of identity and / or address of the customer.”
(Veena Srivastava)
Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2025-26/162 · issued 29 Dec 2025. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (Regional Rural Banks), your first concrete step on “RBI Know Your Customer Amendment Directions 2025 for Regional Rural Banks” is: “Review and update KYC procedures to reflect the new responsibilities” (RBI issued this 29 Dec 2025).
Circular: RBI/2025-26/162 -- RBI Know Your Customer Amendment Directions 2025 for Regional Rural Banks
Issued: 29 Dec 2025
Action required: Review and update KYC procedures to reflect the new responsibilities
Action required: Ensure that customer records are uploaded and downloaded correctly from CKYCR
Action required: Verify the identity and address of customers as per the amended Directions
Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
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.
💬 Banker Discussion
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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=13238&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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