The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated October 06, 2023, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹4.00 lakh (Rupees Four lakh only) on Shree Lodra Nagarik Sahakari Bank Limited, Lodra, Dist. Gandhinagar, Gujarat (the bank) for non-compliance with the directions issued by RBI on ‘Loans and advances to directors, relatives and firms/concerns in which they are interested’ and ‘Placement of Deposits with Other Banks by Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs)’. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under the provisions of Section 47-A (1) (c) read with Sections 46 (4) (i) and 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated October 30, 2023, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹10 lakh (Rupees Ten lakh only) on Mercedes-Benz Financial Services India Private Limited (formerly known as Daimler Financial Services India Private Limited) (the company) for non-compliance with certain provisions of the Reserve Bank of India (Know Your Customer (KYC)) Direction, 2016. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under the provisions of clause (b) of sub-section (1) of Section 58G read with clause (aa) of sub-section (5) of Section 58B of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated October 25, 2023, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹13.38 lakh (Rupees Thirteen lakh and thirty eight thousand only) on Kosamattam Finance Limited, Kottayam (the company) for non-compliance with certain provisions of the “Non-Banking Financial Company - Systemically Important Non-Deposit taking Company and Deposit taking Company (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2016”. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under the provisions of Section 25(1)(iii) read with Section 23(4) of the Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act, 2005 (CIC (R) Act) and Section 58G (1)(b) read with Section 58B(5)(aa) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (RBI Act).

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated October 30, 2023, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹30 lakh (Rupees Thirty lakh only) on Federal Bank Ltd. (the bank) for non-compliance with certain directions contained in ‘Reserve Bank of India (Know Your Customer (KYC)) Directions, 2016’. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers vested in RBI conferred under the provisions of Section 47 A (1) (c) read with Section 46 (4) (i) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated October 30, 2023, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹72 lakh (Rupees Seventy Two lakh only) on Punjab National Bank (the bank) for non-compliance with certain provisions of ‘Reserve Bank of India (Interest Rate on Deposits) Directions, 2016’, ‘Reserve Bank of India (Interest Rate on Advances) Directions, 2016’ and ‘Master Circular on Customer Service in Banks’. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers vested in RBI conferred under the provisions of Section 47 A (1) (c) read with Sections 46 (4) (i) and 51(1) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated October 04, 2023, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹2.00 lakh (Rupees Two lakh only) on Pij People’s Co-operative Bank Limited, Pij, Dist. Kheda, Gujarat (the bank) for non-compliance with the directions issued by RBI on ‘Reserve Bank of India (Know Your Customer (KYC)) Directions, 2016’. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under the provisions of Section 47-A (1) (c) read with Sections 46 (4) (i) and 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated October 05, 2023, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹2.00 lakh (Rupees Two lakh only) on Mizoram Co-operative Apex Bank Ltd., Aizawl (the bank) for non-compliance with the directions issued by RBI on ‘Housing Finance’ applicable to State Co-operative Banks. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under the provisions of Section 47-A (1) (c) read with Sections 46 (4) (i) and 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

This action is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers.

Background

The statutory inspection of the bank conducted by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2022, and examination of the Inspection Report and all correspondence related thereto revealed, inter alia, that the bank’s total exposure to housing finance was above the prescribed limit. Consequently, a notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for non-compliance with the said directions, as stated therein.

After considering the bank’s reply to the notice and oral submissions made by it during the personal hearing, RBI came to the conclusion that the charge of non-compliance with the aforesaid RBI directions was substantiated and warranted imposition of monetary penalty on the bank.

(Yogesh Dayal)     
Chief General Manager

Press Release: 2023-2024/1202

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated October 04, 2023, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹1.00 lakh (Rupees One lakh only) on Shihori Nagarik Sahakari Bank Ltd., Shihori, Dist. Banaskantha, Gujarat (the bank) for non-compliance with directions issued by RBI on ‘Loans and advances to directors, relatives and firms/concerns in which they are interested’ read with ‘Loans and advances to Directors etc. - Directors as surety/guarantors – Clarification’ and ‘Placement of Deposits with Other Banks by Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs)’. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under the provisions of Section 47-A (1) (c) read with Sections 46 (4) (i) and 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated October 04, 2023, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹7.00 lakh (Rupees Seven lakh only) on Uma Co-operative Bank Ltd., Vadodara, Gujarat (the bank) for contravention of directions issued by RBI on ‘Placement of Deposits with Other Banks by Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs)’. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under the provisions of Section 47-A (1) (c) read with Sections 46 (4) (i) and 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated September 19, 2023, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹1.10 lakh (Rupees One lakh Ten thousand only) on Birbhum District Central Co-operative Bank Ltd., Birbhum, West Bengal (the bank) for non-compliance with the directions issued by RBI on ‘Reserve Bank of India (Know Your Customer (KYC)) Directions, 2016’ and ‘Membership of Credit Information Companies (CICs)’. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under the provisions of Section 47-A (1) (c) read with Sections 46 (4) (i) and 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and Section 25 (1) (iii) read with section 23 (4) of the Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act, 2005.

This action is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers.

Background

The statutory inspection of the bank conducted by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2022, and examination of the Inspection Report and all correspondence related thereto revealed, inter alia, that the bank had (i) failed to carry out periodic review of risk categorisation of accounts, (ii) failed to undertake risk categorisation of a number of accounts; and (iii) failed to obtain membership of three out of the four CICs. Consequently, a notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for failure to comply with the said directions, as stated therein.

After considering the bank’s reply to the notice and oral submissions made by it during the personal hearing, RBI came to the conclusion that the charge of non-compliance with the aforesaid RBI directions was substantiated and warranted imposition of monetary penalty on the bank.

(Yogesh Dayal)     
Chief General Manager

Press Release: 2023-2024/1201