The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated February 6, 2024, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹43.30 lakh (Rupees Forty-Three Lakh and Thirty Thousand only) on Zoroastrian Co-operative Bank Ltd. (the bank) for non-compliance with the directions issued by RBI on ‘Maintenance of Deposit Accounts’, ‘Interest Rate on Deposits’ and ‘Frauds in UCBs: Changes in Monitoring and Reporting mechanism’. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under section 47A(1)(c) read with sections 46(4)(i) and 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

This action is based on deficiency 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 inspections of the bank conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2021 and March 31, 2022, and examination of the Risk Assessment Reports, Inspection Reports and all correspondence related thereto revealed, inter alia, that the bank had (i) recovered penal charges from Savings Bank accounts for non-maintenance of minimum balances therein without notifying the depositors, (ii) not paid interest on balances lying in the current accounts of deceased individual depositors / proprietorship concerns from the date of their death till the date of repayment of such balances to their claimants and (iii) reported a fraud with delay. 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 RBI directions, as stated therein.

After considering the bank’s reply to the notice, its additional submissions 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 bank.

(Yogesh Dayal)       
Chief General Manager

Press Release: 2023-2024/1834