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Directions · Reserve Bank of India

Reserve Bank of India (Urban Co-operative Banks – Financial Statements: Presentation and Disclosures) Directions, 2025 (Updated as on April 1, 2026)

UR

The four dates on this rule

At a glanceThis paper sets how urban co-operative banks must show their accounts. These Directions apply to every urban co-operative bank. These Directions came into effect on the day RBI issued them.

Official RBI page

What it says

Chapter I. Preliminary

1. Accounts rules for UCBs

This paper sets how urban co-operative banks must show their accounts.

2. Start date

These Directions came into effect on the day RBI issued them.

3. Who is covered

These Directions apply to every urban co-operative bank.

Chapter II. Balance sheet and profit and loss account

Must know

1. Twenty per cent means influence

Holding a fifth or more of the votes is taken to mean significant influence.

Do it

2. Other banking business

Extra segments inside other banking business must be reported where they meet the test.

3. Name the related party

The name and nature of a related party tie must be shown, even with no dealings.

Background

4. Rate on the day

Applying the rate of the day is hard for items not booked in rupees.

5. Format is only a guide

The format given is an example and does not cover everything.

6. Secrecy comes first

Where telling would break a duty of secrecy set by law, the disclosure is not made.

7. Customer secrecy is a duty

The common law duty to keep customer details secret excuses such disclosure.

8. Influence, not control

Significant influence is a share in policy decisions, not control over them.

9. A big holder does not

Another investor holding most of the shares does not by itself rule out influence.

10. Intangible asset rule

This standard covers intangible assets not dealt with by another standard.

11. Intangibles block a dividend

A lender holding intangible assets needs Central Government leave to pay a dividend.

12. Impairment is for fixed assets

The wear and tear rule covers fixed assets, not loans or investments.

Chapter III. Disclosure in Financial Statements – Notes to Accounts

Do it

1. Disclose in notes to accounts

What this chapter names must be shown in the notes to accounts.

2. Show the previous period

Last year's figure must be shown beside every figure for this year.

3. Narrative comparatives too

Last year's words must be given too, where they help make this year clear.

4. Show HTM transfers

A transfer of securities into or out of held to maturity must be shown in the notes.

5. Non-SLR total must tie

The total shown must match the total of non-SLR investments held.

6. Break out a big industry

An industry above a tenth of all industry advances must be shown on its own.

7. Overseas assets and bad loans

Overseas assets, bad loans and income must be shown for this year and last.

8. Statutory reserves shown apart

Reserves made under the Banking Regulation Act must be shown on their own.

Background

9. These do not replace others

These are added to, and do not take the place of, what other law asks for.

10. Policies as a schedule

The main accounting policies and the notes go in as their own schedules.

11. Floating provisions may net off

Floating sums not counted in Tier 2 may be cut from gross bad loans.

Chapter IV. Other Instructions

Must know

1. Blocked Account credits

Credit entries unreconciled for more than five years move to a Blocked Account.

2. Unclaimed transitory balances

Unclaimed balances in transitory accounts cannot be moved to profit or to reserves.

Do it

3. Late-report penalty

If a bank reports fraud late, it must set aside the full provision at once.

4. Deferred tax rule

Banks must set aside deferred tax on the Special Reserve under the Income Tax Act.

5. True and fair picture

The balance sheet and profit and loss account must show a true and fair picture.

Background

6. Fraud provision spreading

A bank that reports fraud on time can spread the provision over four quarters.

7. Window dressing penalty

RBI treats window dressing and hiding bad loans seriously and can take penal action.

Chapter V. Repeal and Other Provisions

1. Old cases continue

Penalties and legal cases already started under the old rules still continue.

How this rule has changed

The points above are the rule as it stands today, after every change listed here.

  1. Issued on Nov 28, 2025. This is the date RBI put the rule out.

  2. Changed on Jan 05, 2026.

    • Define related parties. Banks must use the related party meaning from the 2025 credit risk management directions.
    • Loans sanctioned disclosure. Banks must show total loans sanctioned to related parties during the year.
    • Outstanding loans amount. Banks must show total loans to related parties that are outstanding on 31st March.
  3. Changed on Mar 16, 2026.

    • Late premium disclosure. If the bank missed the payment timeline, it must also say this clearly in the annual report.
    • Start date. These amendment rules apply from April 1, 2026.
  4. Changed on Apr 29, 2026.

    • New disclosure table. Urban co-operative banks must add a new table in notes showing unsecured advances and lending to nominal members.
    • Report unsecured outstanding. Banks must show total unsecured advances outstanding on 31 March in the disclosure table.
    • Unsecured as loan share. Banks must show unsecured advances outstanding, excluding small tickets, as a percentage of total loans and advances.
    • Classify unsecured stress. Banks must disclose unsecured advances that are in Special Mention Accounts as on 31 March.

The same subject for other kinds of institution

The same subject for other kinds of institution.

Other RBI rules for urban co-operative banks

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