These actions on 3 coop banks are based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance
FinTech BizNews Service
Mumbai, February 27, 2025: The RBI, by separate orders, in February 2025, has imposed a monetary penalty on 3 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 Business Co-operative Bank, Nashik, Maharashtra; Lasalgaon Merchants Co-operative Bank, Nashik, Maharashtra and Bombay Mercantile Co-operative Bank, Mumbai.
1 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated February 24, 2025, imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 1.00 lakh (Rupees One Lakh only) on The Business Co-operative Bank Ltd., Nashik, Maharashtra (the bank) for contravention of the provisions of Section 26A read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (BR Act). 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 BR Act.
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 contravention of the statutory provisions 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 provisions. 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 failed to transfer eligible unclaimed amounts to the Depositor Education and Awareness Fund within the prescribed time.
This action is based on deficiencies in statutory 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 (RBI) has, by an order dated February 24, 2025, imposed a monetary penalty of Rs1.00 lakh (Rupees One Lakh only) on The Lasalgaon Merchants Co-operative Bank Ltd., Nashik, Maharashtra (the bank) for non-compliance with certain directions issued by RBI on ‘Income Recognition, Asset Classification, Provisioning and Other Related Matters - UCBs’. 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, 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 sanctioned additional credit facilities to certain borrowers for repaying their existing loans.
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 (RBI) has, by an order dated February 17, 2025, imposed a monetary penalty of Rs33.30 lakh (Rupees Thirty Three Lakh Thirty Thousand only) on Bombay Mercantile Co-operative Bank Ltd., Mumbai (the bank), for contravention of the provisions of Section 6(2) read with Section 56 of The Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (BR Act). 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 BR Act.
The statutory inspection of the bank was conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2023. Based on supervisory findings of contravention of statutory provisions 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 provisions. 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 engaged in and earned income from business not permissible under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
This action is based on deficiencies in statutory 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 (RBI) has, by an order dated February 17, 2025, imposed a monetary penalty of Rs33.30 lakh (Rupees Thirty Three Lakh Thirty Thousand only) on Bombay Mercantile Co-operative Bank Ltd., Mumbai (the bank), for contravention of the provisions of Section 6(2) read with Section 56 of The Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (BR Act). 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 BR Act.
The statutory inspection of the bank was conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2023. Based on supervisory findings of contravention of statutory provisions 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 provisions. 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 engaged in and earned income from business not permissible under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
This action is based on deficiencies in statutory 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.
