RBI/2013-14/513
RPCD.CO.RCB.BC.No. 90 /07. 51.010 /2013-14

March 05, 2014

The Chairmen
All State/ District Cooperative Banks

Dear Sir/Madam,

Ensuring Reasonableness of Bank Charges and Charges Levied for Sending SMS Alerts by State Cooperative Banks (StCBs) /District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs)

Please refer to paragraph 37 of the Second Quarter Review of Monetary Policy Statements 2013-14 announced on October 29, 2013 (extract enclosed) on ‘Customer Service – Charges Levied by Banks for sending SMS alerts’. State Cooperative Banks (StCBs) /District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) are required to put in place a system of online alerts for all types of transactions, irrespective of the amounts, involving usage of cards at various channels in terms of circular RBI/DPSS.No.1501 /02.14.003/2008-09 dated February 18, 2009 and DPSS.CO.PD. 2224/ 02.14.003/ 2010-11 dated March 29, 2011.

2. Considering the technology available with banks and the telecom service providers, it should be possible for StCBs / DCCBs to charge customers based on actual usage of SMS alerts. Accordingly, with a view to ensuring reasonableness and equity in the charges levied by StCBs/DCCBs for sending SMS alerts to customers, StCBs/DCCBs are advised to leverage the technology available with them and the telecom service providers to ensure that such charges are levied on all customers on actual usage basis.

3. Further, the principles to be adopted/followed by StCBs/DCCBs for ensuring reasonableness in fixing and communicating the service charges for the basic banking services are indicated in the Annex. StCBs/DCCBs are required to take action as stated in the column ‘Action Points for StCBs/DCCBs’.

4. Please acknowledge receipt to our Regional Office concerned.

Yours faithfully,

(A.Udgata)
Principal Chief General Manager

Extract from Second Quarter Review of Monetary Policy 2013-14

Customer Service - Charges Levied by Banks for Sending SMS Alerts

37. With a view to ensuring reasonableness and equity in the charges levied by banks for sending SMS alerts to customers, banks are advised to leverage the technology available with them and the telecom service providers to ensure that such charges are levied on all customers on actual usage basis.