These actions on 4 coop banks and 1 NBFC are based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance
FinTech BizNews Service
Mumbai, February 17, 2025: The RBI, by separate orders, in February 2025, has imposed a monetary penalty on each of 5 cooperative banks. These actions on the concerned coop banks are based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance, as per the press release issued by the RBI today.
RBI has imposed monetary penalty on Shree Balaji Urban Co-operative Bank Ltd., Satna, Madhya Pradesh; Laxmibai Mahila Nagrik Sahakari Bank Maryadit, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh; Dhule and Nandurbar District Central Co-operative Bank, Dhule, Maharashtra; Muzzafarpur Central Co-operative Bank; Pinnacle Capital Solutions, Jharkhand. Pinnacle Capital Solutions Private Limited (PinCap), registered in Jharkhand, is an RBI-registered, technology-focused Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC).
1 The Reserve Bank of India (RBl) has, by an order dated February 13, 2025, imposed a monetary penalty of Rs1.10 lakh (Rupees One Lakh Ten Thousand only) on Shree Balaji Urban Co-operative Bank Ltd., Satna, Madhya Pradesh (the bank), for non-compliance with certain directions issued by RBI on ‘Priority Sector Lending (PSL) - Targets and Classification’ and specific directions issued by RBI on making contribution to Micro and Small Enterprises (MSE) Refinance Fund due to shortfall in achievement of PSL. 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.
The bank was directed by RBI through specific direction to deposit a certain amount in the MSE Refinance Fund administered by Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) against the shortfall in achievement of PSL target for the Financial Year (FY) 2022-23. On failure to deposit the specified amount, a cautionary letter was issued by RBI advising the bank to deposit the specified amount, but the bank failed to deposit the same. Based on the above-mentioned non-compliance 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 RBI directions. After considering the bank's reply to the notice, oral submissions made during the personal hearing and examination of additional submissions made by it, RBI found, inter alia, that the following charge against the bank was sustained, warranting imposition of monetary penalty:
The bank had failed to deposit the prescribed amount in the MSE Refinance Fund maintained with SIDBI against the shortfall in achievement of PSL target for FY 2022-23, even after the issuance of cautionary letter, within the prescribed time.
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. Further, imposition of this monetary penalty is without prejudice to any other action that may be initiated by RBI against the bank.
2 The Reserve Bank of India (RBl) has, by an order dated February 13, 2025, imposed a monetary penalty of Rs4.20 lakh (Rupees Four Lakh Twenty Thousand only), on Laxmibai Mahila Nagrik Sahakari Bank Maryadit, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, (the bank), for non-compliance with certain directions issued by RBI on ‘Loans and advances to directors, their relatives, and firms/ concerns in which they are interested’, and ‘Priority Sector Landing (PSL) - Targets and classification’, and specific directions issued by RBI on making contribution to Micro and Small Enterprises (MSE) Refinance Fund due to shortfall in achievement of PSL. 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.
The statutory inspection of the bank was conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2023. Further, the bank was directed by RBI through specific directions to deposit a certain amount to MSE Refinance Fund administered by Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) against the shortfall in achievement of PSL target for the Financial Year (FY) 2022-23. On failure to deposit the specified amount, a cautionary letter was issued by RBI advising the bank to deposit the specified amount, but the bank failed to deposit the same.
Based on supervisory findings of non-compliance with the RBI directions observed during the statutory inspection, non-adherence with specific 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:
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. Further, imposition of this monetary penalty is without prejudice to any other action that may be initiated by RBI against the bank.
3 The Reserve Bank of India (RBl) has, by an order dated February 13, 2025, imposed a monetary penalty of Rs25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only) on The Dhule and Nandurbar District Central Co-operative Bank Ltd., Dhule, Maharashtra (the bank) for non-compliance with certain directions issued by RBI on ‘Membership of Credit Information Companies (CICs) by Co-operative Banks’. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under the provisions of Section 25 of the Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act, 2005.
The statutory inspection of the bank was conducted by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2023. 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, oral submissions made during the personal hearing and examination of additional submissions made by it, RBI found, inter alia, that the following charge against the bank was sustained, warranting imposition of monetary penalty:
The bank had failed to submit credit information of its borrowers to any of the four CICs.
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. Further, imposition of this monetary penalty is without prejudice to any other action that may be initiated by RBI against the bank.
4 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated February 11, 2025, imposed a monetary penalty of Rs1.00 lakh (Rupees One Lakh only) on The Muzzafarpur Central Co-operative Bank Ltd. (the bank) for non-compliance with the certain directions issued by RBI on ‘Know Your Customer’. 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.
The statutory inspection of the bank was conducted by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) 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 charge against the bank was sustained, warranting imposition of monetary penalty:
The bank had not conducted periodic updation of KYC of its customers.
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.
5 The Reserve Bank of India (RBl) has, by an order dated February 11, 2025, imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 2.00 lakh (Rupees Two Lakh only) on Pinnacle Capital Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Jharkhand (the company) for non-compliance with certain directions issued by RBI on ‘Credit Card and Debit Card – Issuance and Conduct Directions’ and ‘Digital Lending’. 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.
The onsite scrutiny of the company with regard to its digital lending operations was conducted by RBI. Based on supervisory findings of non-compliance with RBI directions and related correspondence in that regard, a notice was issued to the company 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 company’s reply to the notice and oral submissions made during the personal hearing, RBI found, inter alia, that the following charges against the company was sustained, warranting imposition of monetary penalty:
The company had:
issued credit line in the nature of credit card to certain borrowers, without prior approval from RBI; and
disbursed loans to borrowers through a pass-through account of a third party.
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 company with its customers. Further, imposition of this monetary penalty is without prejudice to any other action that may be initiated by RBI against the company.
