RBI's 2026 Dividend Norms: Tougher Eligibility for Banks

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Short title and commencement B. Applicability C. Definitions Chapter II - Declaration of dividend and remittance of profits A. Board oversight B. Eligibility criteria C. Quantum of dividend payable by banks incorporated in India D. Remittance of profits by foreign banks operating in India in branch mode E. Profits ineligible for payment of dividend / remittance of profit by foreign banks operating in India in branch mode F. Reporting system G. Restriction on payment of dividend and remittance of profits H. Penal consequences for non-compliance Chapter III - Repeal and other provisions A. Repeal and saving B. Application of other laws not barred C. Interpretations Annex I Annex II Annex III Introduction In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act (BR Act), 1949, and all other provisions / laws enabling the Reserve Bank of India (‘RBI’) in this regard, RBI being satisfied that it is necessary and expedient in the public interest to do so, hereby, issues the Directions hereinafter specified. Chapter I A. Short title and commencement 1. These Directions shall be called the Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Prudential Norms on Declaration of Dividend and Remittance of Profits) Directions, 2026. 2. These Directions shall come into effect from Financial Year (FY) 2026-27. B. Applicability 3. These Directions shall be applicable to all banking companies, corresponding new banks and State Bank of India as defined under subsections (c), (da) and (nc) of section 5 of the Banking Regulation Act,1949, and foreign banks operating as branch(es), excluding Small Finance Banks (SFBs), Local Area Banks (LABs), Payments Banks (PBs), and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), hereinafter collectively referred to as 'banks' and individually as a 'bank'. C. Definitions 4. In these Directions, unless the context states otherwise, the terms herein shall bear the meanings assigned to them below. (1) ‘Adjusted Profit After Tax (PAT)’ means PAT of the financial year for which the dividend is proposed to be paid minus 50 per cent of Net NPA as on March 31 of the financial year for which the dividend is to be paid; (2) ‘Dividend’ means dividend payable on equity shares and includes interim dividend but excludes dividend on Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preference Shares (PNCPS); (3) ‘Extra-ordinary profit / income’ shall have the same meaning as defined under applicable Accounting Standards; and (4) ‘Remittance of profit’ means repatriation of profit by a foreign bank operating in India in branch mode to its Head Office. 5. All other expressions unless defined herein shall have the same meaning as have been assigned to them under the applicable Acts, Rules / Regulations made thereunder, or any statutory modification or re-enactment thereto or as used in commercial parlance, as the case may be. Chapter II - Declaration of dividend and remittance of profits A. Board oversight 6. The Board of Directors 1 while considering the proposal for declaration of dividend or remittance of profit of a bank shall consider the following: (1) The divergence in asset classification and provisioning for Non-Performing Assets (NPAs), including its trend, as observed if any, under supervisory findings of the Reserve Bank; (2) Auditors’ Report to the financial statements, including modified opinion or Emphasis of Matter, for the financial year for which the dividend is proposed; (3) Current and projected capital position vis-à-vis applicable regulatory capital requirement; and (4) Long term growth plans. B. Eligibility criteria 7. A bank shall meet the following prudential requirements, to be eligible to declare dividends or remit profits. (1) The bank was in compliance with the applicable regulatory capital requirement as at the end of the previous financial year and shall continue to be in compliance as at the end of the financial year during which the dividend is proposed to be paid. (2) The regulatory capital of the bank shall not fall below the applicable regulatory capital requirement even after the payment of dividend. (3) The bank incorporated in India shall have positive adjusted Profit After Tax (PAT) for the period for which the dividend is proposed. (4) A foreign bank operating in India in the branch mode, shall have positive PAT for the period for which the profits are to be remitted to the Head Office. (5) The bank shall not be under any explicit restrictions for declaration of dividends or remittance of profits from the Reserve Bank or any other authority. C. Quantum of dividend payable by banks incorporated in India 8. A bank incorporated in India which satisfies the eligibility criteria laid down in paragraph 7 above, may declare and pay dividend up to the limits prescribed under Table 1 below, but in aggregate not exceeding 75% of the PAT for the period for which the dividend is being proposed. Table 1 Bucket CET 1 ratio as at the end of previous FY Dividend allowed as a % of adjusted PAT for the period B1 Up to (8 + z)% 0 B2 Above (8 + z)% and up to (10 + z)% 20 B3 Above (10 + z)% and up to (12 + z)% 30 B4 Above (12 + z)% and up to (14 + z)% 40 B5 Above (14 + z)% and up to (16 + z)% 50 B6 Above (16 + z)% and up to (17 + z)% 60 B7 Above (17 + z)% and up to (18 + z)% 70 B8 Above (18 + z)% and up to (19 + z)% 80 B9 Above (19 + z)% and up to (20 + z)% 90 B10 Above (20 + z)% 100 Note: ‘z’ in Table 1 refers to the respective applicable D-SIB buffer. ‘z’ shall be zero for a bank not classified as D-SIB. 9. The detailed illustrations are given in Annex I . D. Remittance of profits by foreign banks operating in India in branch mode 10. A foreign bank operating in India in branch mode, that satisfies the eligibility criteria as specified in paragraph 7 above, may remit net profit / surplus (net of tax) earned in the normal course of business arising out of its Indian operations, without prior approval of the Reserve Bank, subject to the conditions that the accounts of the bank are audited and in the event of excess remittance, if any, the Head Office of that foreign bank immediately shall return the excess remittance and make good the shortfall. E. Profits ineligible for payment of dividend / remittance of profit by foreign banks operating in India in branch mode 11. The following profits shall not be available for payment of dividend / repatriation of profit by foreign banks operating in India in branch mode: (1) Any exceptional and / or extra-ordinary profits / income shall not be available for payment of dividend / remittance of profit by foreign banks operating in branch mode in India. (2) If the audit report by the statutory auditor contains a modified opinion that indicates an overstatement of the PAT, the same shall not be available for payment of dividend / remittance of profit by foreign banks operating in branch mode in India, to the extent it is included in PAT. (3) In terms of Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks - Classification, Valuation and Operation of Investment Portfolio) Directions, 2025 , a bank shall not pay dividend or repatriate profits out of net unrealised gains arising on fair valuation of Level 3 financial instruments (including derivatives). (4) The prudential treatment of reversal of excess provision, dividend payment or remittance of profits by a bank on reversal of such provisions and unrealized profits arising on account of transfer of loans and Security Receipts guaranteed by the Government of India shall be guided by the instructions contained in the Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Transfer and Distribution of Credit Risk) Directions, 2025 . F. Reporting system 12. A bank paying dividend or remitting profits to Head Office shall report details thereof as per the format prescribed in Annex II . The report shall be furnished to the Department of Supervision of the Reserve Bank within a fortnight of declaration of dividend / remitting profits to Head Office. G. Restriction on payment of dividend and remittance of profits 13. The Reserve Bank reserves the right to place restrictions on distribution of dividend or remittance of profit where a bank is found to be non-compliant with the applicable laws, regulations / guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank. 14. If a bank does not meet the eligibility criteria as per paragraph 7 above, no special dispensation will be given for declaration of dividend or for remittance of profits for that period. H. Penal consequences for non-compliance 15. Non-compliance with any of the provisions contained in these Directions may attract supervisory and / or enforcement action, as applicable. Chapter III - Repeal and other provisions A. Repeal and saving 16. The list of circulars repealed with respect to the provisions relating to commercial banks coming under the purview of this Direction is given in Annex III . 17. The Directions, instructions, and guidelines repealed prior to the issuance of these Directions shall continue to remain repealed. 18. Notwithstanding such repeal, any action taken or purported to have been taken, or initiated under the repealed Directions, instructions, or guidelines shall continue to be governed by the provisions thereof. All approvals or acknowledgments granted under these repealed lists shall be deemed as governed by these Directions. Further, the repeal of these Directions, instructions, or guidelines shall not in any way prejudicially affect: (1) any right, obligation or liability acquired, accrued, or incurred thereunder; (2) any, penalty, forfeiture, or punishment incurred in respect of any contravention committed thereunder; and (3) any investigation, legal proceeding, or remedy in respect of any such right, privilege, obligation, liability, penalty, forfeiture, or punishment as aforesaid; and any such investigation, legal proceedings or remedy may be instituted, continued, or enforced and any such penalty, forfeiture, or punishment may be imposed as if those Directions, instructions, or guidelines had not been repealed. B. Application of other laws not barred 19. The provisions of these Directions shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of the provisions of any other laws, rules, regulations or Directions, for the time being in force. C. Interpretations 20. For the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of these Directions or in order to remove any difficulties in the application or interpretation of the provisions of these Directions, the Reserve Bank̥ may, if it considers necessary, issue necessary clarifications in respect of any matter covered herein and the interpretation of any provision of these Directions given by the Reserve Bank shall be final and binding. (Sunil T S Nair) Chief General Manager Annex III List of circulars repealed Sr. No. Circular Number Date of Issue Subject 1. DOR.ACC.REC.87/21-02-067/2025-26 November 28, 2025 Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Prudential Norms on Declaration of Dividends and Remittance of Profit) Directions, 2025 1 In case of foreign banks operating in India in the branch mode, this shall be read as the bank's management. 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 Right to Information Act Tenders Follow RBI RSS Twitter YouTube Instagram Facebook LinkedIn

Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2025-26/387 · issued 10 Mar 2026. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.

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