RBI/2009-10/171
RPCD.CO.RRB.BC.No. 27 / 03.05.33(E)/2009-10

September 29, 2009

The Chairman
All Regional Rural Banks

Dear Sir,

Know Your Customer (KYC) Norms / Anti-Money Laundering (AML)
Standards and obligation of Regional Rural Banks (RRBS) under
PMLA, 2002
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Please refer to our circulars RPCD.No.RRB.BC.81/03.05.33 (E) / 2004-05 dated February 18, 2005 and RPCD. CO.RRB.AML.BC.68/03.05.33 (E) / 2005-06 dated March 9, 2006 on the captioned subject.

2. The Prevention of Money Laundering (Amendment) Act, 2009 (No. 21 of 2009) has come into force with effect from June 01, 2009 as notified by the Government. In terms of Sub-Section 2(a) of Section 12 of The Prevention of Money Laundering (Amendment) Act, 2009 (PMLA, 2009), the records referred to in clause (a) of Sub-Section (1) of Section 12 shall be maintained for a period of ten years from the date of transaction between the clients and the banking company and in terms of Sub-Section 2(b) of Section 12 of the Act ibid, the records referred to in clause (c) of Sub-Section (1) of Section 12 shall be maintained for a period of ten years from the date of cessation of transaction between the clients and the banking company.

3. Accordingly, in modification of paragraph 5 of our circular dated March 9, 2006, RRBs are advised to maintain for at least ten years from the date of transaction between the bank and the client, all necessary records of transactions referred to at Rule 3 of the Prevention of Money-Laundering (Maintenance of Records of the Nature and Value of Transactions, the Procedure and Manner of Maintaining and Time for Furnishing Information and Verification and Maintenance of Records of the Identity of the Clients of the Banking Companies, Financial Institutions and Intermediaries) Rules, 2005 (PMLA Rules), both domestic or international, which will permit reconstruction of individual transactions (including the amounts and types of currency involved, if any) so as to provide, if necessary, evidence for prosecution of persons involved in criminal activity.

4. However, records pertaining to the identification of the customer and his address (e.g. copies of documents like passports, identity cards, driving licenses, PAN card, utility bills etc.) obtained while opening the account and during the course of business relationship, as indicated in paragraph 5 of the above said circular dated March 9, 2006, would continue to be preserved for at least ten years after the business relationship is ended as required under Rule 10 of the Rules ibid.

Accounts of Politically Exposed Persons

5. Detailed guidelines on customer due diligence (CDD) measures to be made applicable to Politically Exposed Person (PEP) and their family members or close relatives are contained in Annex-I to our circular dated February 18, 2005 referred to above. It is further advised  that in the event of an existing customer or the beneficial owner of an existing account, subsequently becoming a PEP, RRBs should obtain senior management approval to continue the business relationship and subject the account to the CDD measures as applicable to the customers of PEP category including enhanced monitoring on an ongoing basis.

Principal Officer

6. RRBs were advised vide paragraph 9 of the guidelines on ‘Know Your Customer’ Norms and Anti-Money Laundering measures enclosed to the circular dated February 18, 2005 referred to above that RRBs should appoint a senior management officer to be designated as Principal Officer and the role and responsibilities of the Principal Officer have been detailed therein. With a view to enable the Principal Officer to discharge his responsibilities, it is advised that the Principal Officer and other appropriate staff should have timely access to customer identification data and other CDD information, transaction records and other relevant information. Further, RRBs should ensure that the Principal Officer is able to act independently and report directly to the senior management or to the Board of Directors.

Yours faithfully,

(R.C.Sarangi)
Chief General Manager