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

1. One combined rulebook

This book holds RBI's mixed rules for commercial 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 commercial 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. Monthly Fund transfer

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

4. Refund claim window

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

5. Report errors at once

A bank tells RBI of any error at once. It gives the reason and the checks it has added. It also assures RBI that the error will not happen again.

6. Post-refund record keeping

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

7. Auditor certificate deadline

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

8. Answer RBI on demand

RBI or the Committee may ask. The bank must then pay what is due. It must also give any information they seek on unclaimed amounts.

9. Fund pays for awareness

Money spent on depositor education, awareness and interests is charged to the Fund.

10. Pay the depositor first

If a depositor asks for the money, the bank repays him and then lodges a refund claim with the Fund.

11. Fund account operators

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

12. Maker-checker rule

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

13. Returns go in original

The specified auditors certify the returns. The bank sends the original to the Fund at RBI's Central Office. It sends a copy by email as well.

14. Reconciliation certificate dates

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

15. Audited before and after

Every Fund entry is audited before and after submission and signed by both authorised signatories and the auditors.

16. The Scheme decides

For anything else the bank follows the Scheme notified in the Official Gazette, and RBI's reading of it is final.

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.

4. Hold KYC camps

Banks are advised to run camps and campaigns for periodic KYC updation, especially at rural and semi-urban branches.

1. Do not quote that circular

The RBI circular of 6 April 2018 was set aside by the Supreme Court and must not be cited or quoted.

2. Blocked defaulter companies

No money transaction is allowed for the companies a High Court declared defaulters.

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. No lottery ties

A bank must not tie itself to any lottery scheme.

4. Prize chit checks

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

5. Yearly donation review

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

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. No work while on leave

An employee on mandatory leave may not reach any work resource, apart from ordinary corporate email.

3. Staff rotation policy

Each bank must put a staff rotation policy in place.

1. Old instructions repealed

The earlier directions and guidelines on these subjects stand repealed by the circular of 28 November 2025.

BankPulse example. A compliance officer keeps an old circular on the same subject in the manual. It no longer applies. The existing directions, instructions and guidelines on these areas stand repealed. Only this rulebook governs them now.

2. Earlier repeals stand

Rules already repealed before this book stay repealed.

3. Adds to other law

These rules add to other laws, rules and directions in force; they do not take anything away from them.

BankPulse example. A bank follows these Directions and thinks the matter is closed. It is not. Any other laws, rules, regulations or directions in force still apply on top. Where another one asks for more, the bank does the more.