The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated August 05, 2025, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹2.53 lakh (Rupees Two Lakh Fifty Three Thousand only) on The Utkal Cooperative Bank Limited, Bhubaneswar (the bank) for non-compliance with specific directions issued by RBI under ‘Supervisory Action Framework (SAF)’ and certain directions issued on ‘Membership of Credit Information Companies (CICs) by Co-operative Banks’ and ‘Know Your Customer (KYC)’. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under provisions of Section 47A(1)(c) read with Sections 46(4)(i) and 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and Section 25 read with Section 23 of the Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act, 2005.  

The statutory inspection of the bank was conducted by the RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2024. Based on supervisory findings of non-compliance with RBI directions and related correspondence in that regard, a notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for its failure to comply with the said directions. After considering the bank’s reply to the notice and oral submissions made during the personal hearing, RBI found, inter alia, that the following charges against the bank were sustained, warranting imposition of monetary penalty:

The bank had:

1. incurred capital expenditure without prior approval of RBI in non-adherence to directions under SAF;
2. failed to submit credit information of customers to three Credit Information Companies;
3. failed to upload the KYC records of customers onto Central KYC Records Registry (CKYCR); and
4. failed to put in place a system of periodic review of risk categorisation of accounts with such periodicity being at least once in six months.

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. Further, imposition of this monetary penalty is without prejudice to any other action that may be initiated by RBI against the bank.

(Puneet Pancholy)     
Chief General Manager

Press Release: 2025-2026/882