Reserve Bank of India (Small Finance Banks – Miscellaneous) Directions, 2025

1. One combined rulebook

This book holds RBI's mixed rules for small finance banks in one place.

1. Start date

The rules took effect at once, from 28 November 2025.

2. Who is covered

These rules apply to every small finance bank.

3. Primary dealers included

One rule, on corporate bond reporting, also covers primary dealers.

1. Board-approved policies

The board must approve policies on donations, staff certificates and sensitive posts.

1. Ten-year unclaimed rule

Money left untouched for ten years or more goes to the RBI Fund.

2. Interest on Fund deposits

Since 11 May 2021, banks pay 3 percent interest on such deposits.

3. Fund account operators

A bank may name up to 10 officers to operate its Fund account.

4. Monthly Fund transfer

Banks send unclaimed money to the Fund in the last five working days of a month.

5. Refund claim window

Banks file refund claims in the first 10 working days of each month.

6. Maker-checker rule

Every Fund deposit and claim entry needs a maker and a checker.

7. Reconciliation certificate dates

The reconciliation certificate is due by 30 April and 31 October.

8. Auditor certificate deadline

The statutory auditor's yearly certificate must reach RBI by 30 September.

9. Permanent record keeping

Records of accounts sent to the Fund are kept for ever.

10. Post-refund record keeping

After a refund, the bank keeps those papers for at least five years.

1. Metal forward contract limit

A gold, silver or platinum forward contract may not run past six months.

2. Rupee derivative cap

Non-option rupee derivative contracts must stay within 0.25 percent of net worth.

3. Option premium payment

A deferred option premium must be paid at least once every quarter.

1. Donation limit

A bank may give away up to one percent of last year's published profit.

2. Loss-year donation cap

A bank in loss may give only ₹5 lakh in a year.

BankPulse example. A bank that made a loss last year may give ₹5 lakh in donations in the year, and no more. If it has already given ₹4 lakh, only ₹1 lakh is left.

3. Yearly donation review

The bank puts a yearly review of its donations before the board.

4. Prize chit checks

Banks must check that a firm is not running a banned prize chit.

5. No lottery ties

A bank must not tie itself to any lottery scheme.

1. Tax officer requests

An income tax officer may seek details of deposits of ₹50,000 or more.

BankPulse example. An income tax officer may ask about deposits of ₹50,000 or above, and must record the reasons first. So a fixed deposit of ₹80,000 can be asked about. One of ₹20,000 cannot.

1. Course certificate rule

Staff must earn a course certificate before they take up listed key roles.

1. Mandatory leave rule

Staff in sensitive posts must take at least 10 working days leave each year.

2. Staff rotation policy

Each bank must put a staff rotation policy in place.

1. Older rules repealed

Old rules on these same topics for small finance banks now stand repealed.

2. Earlier repeals stand

Rules already repealed before this book stay repealed.