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.

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 RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2022, and examination of the Inspection Report, Risk Assessment Report and all correspondence related thereto revealed, inter alia, that the bank had (i) sanctioned a loan to a relative of one of its directors; (ii) sanctioned loans wherein relatives of its directors stood as guarantors; (iii) breached the prudential inter-bank gross exposure limit; and (iv) breached the prudential inter-bank counterparty exposure 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 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: 2023-2024/1247

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated October 10, 2023, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹3.50 lakh (Rupees Three lakh Fifty thousand only) on Malpur Nagarik Sahakari Bank Limited, Malpur, Dist. Aravalli, Gujarat (the bank) for non-compliance with the 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.

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 RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2022, and examination of the Inspection Report, Risk Assessment Report and all correspondence related thereto revealed, inter alia, that the bank had (i) breached the prudential inter-bank gross exposure limit; and (ii) breached the prudential inter-bank counterparty exposure 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 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: 2023-2024/1249

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated October 12, 2023, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹50,000/- (Rupees Fifty thousand only) on The Jolarpet Co-operative Urban Bank Limited, Dist. Vellore, Tamil Nadu (the bank) for non-compliance with the directions issued by RBI on ‘Board of Directors - UCBs’ read with the directions issued by RBI on ‘Loans and advances to directors, their relatives, and firms/concerns in which they are interested’. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under the provisions of Section 47A (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 RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2022, and examination of the Inspection Report, Risk Assessment Report and all correspondence related thereto revealed, inter alia, that the bank had extended loans to directors and their relatives. 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 aforesaid 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: 2023-2024/1246

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated September 15, 2023, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹3.20 lakh (Rupees Three lakh Twenty thousand only) on Early Salary Services Private Limited, Pune (the company) for non-compliance with certain provisions of the “Non-Banking Financial Company – Non-Systemically Important Non-Deposit taking Company (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2016”. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under the provisions of Section 58G (1) (b) read with Section 58B (5) (aa) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.

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

Background

The correspondence between RBI and the company in furtherance to a supervisory visit/scrutiny conducted in the month of October 2021, revealed, inter alia, that the company had failed to put in place a system of internal audit of all outsourced activities. Consequently, a notice was issued to the company 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 company’s reply to the notice, examination of additional submissions made by it and oral submissions made 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 company.

(Yogesh Dayal)     
Chief General Manager

Press Release: 2023-2024/1251

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated October 09, 2023, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹25,000/- (Rupees Twenty-Five thousand only) on The Limbasi Urban Co-operative Bank Ltd., Limbasi, Dist. Kheda, 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’ read with the directions issued by RBI on ‘Loans and Advances to Directors etc. - Directors as surety/guarantors – Clarification’. 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 RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2022, and examination of the Inspection Report, Risk Assessment Report and all correspondence related thereto revealed, inter alia, that the bank had sanctioned a loan where relative of one of the directors of the bank stood as guarantor. 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: 2023-2024/1248

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

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.

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 RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2022, and examination of the Inspection Report, Risk Assessment Report and all correspondence related thereto, revealed, inter alia, that the bank had (i) sanctioned loans where relatives of directors of the bank stood as guarantors; and (ii) breached the prescribed inter-bank counterparty exposure 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 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: 2023-2024/1204

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.

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 RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2022, and examination of the Inspection Report, Risk Assessment Report and all correspondence related thereto revealed, inter alia, that the bank had failed to carry out periodic review of risk categorisation of accounts. 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: 2023-2024/1205

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed, by an order dated September 18, 2023, a monetary penalty of ₹2.00 lakh (Rupees Two lakh only) on Vadnagar Nagarik Sahakari Bank Ltd., Vadnagar, Gujarat (the bank) for contravention of 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 ‘Co-operative Banks - Interest Rate on Deposits. 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 RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2022, and examination of the Inspection Report, Risk Assessment Report and all correspondence related thereto revealed, inter alia, that the bank had (i) sanctioned a loan where relative of one of the directors of the bank, stood as guarantor, and (ii) not paid interest on matured term deposits from the date of maturity till the date of their repayment at the applicable rate. 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 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: 2023-2024/1142

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated September 21, 2023, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹1.50 lakh (Rupees One lakh Fifty thousand only) on The Ghatal Peoples Co-operative Bank Limited, West Bengal (the bank) for non-compliance with directions issued by RBI on ‘Membership of Credit Information Companies (CICs)’, ‘Exposure Norms and Statutory/Other Restrictions - UCBs’, ‘Reserve Bank of India – (Know Your Customer (KYC)) Directions, 2016’ and for contravention of the provisions of section 26-A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (BR Act) read with directions issued by RBI on ‘The Depositor Education and Awareness Fund Scheme, 2014 –Section 26A of Banking Regulation Act, 1949 - Operational Guidelines’. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers vested in RBI under the provisions of Section 47-A (1) (c) read with Sections 46 (4) (i) and 56 of the BR Act 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 RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2022, and examination of the Inspection Report, Risk Assessment Report and all correspondence related thereto revealed, inter alia, that the bank had (i) failed to upload credit information to CICs, (ii) breached prudential inter-bank counter-party exposure limit, (iii) not put in place a system of periodic review of risk categorisation of accounts, and (iv) not transferred all eligible amounts to the Depositor Education and Awareness Fund. 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 aforementioned directions, as stated therein.

After considering the bank’s reply to the notice, additional submissions 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 and statutory provision was substantiated and warranted imposition of monetary penalty on the bank.

(Yogesh Dayal)     
Chief General Manager

Press Release: 2023-2024/1176