These actions on 5 coop banks are based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance
FinTech BizNews Service
Mumbai, December 20, 2023: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by separate orders in November, 2023, imposed a monetary penalty on each of 5 Co-operative banks. These actions on 5 coop banks are based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance, as per the press releases issued by the RBI on December 18, 2023.
RBI has imposed monetary penalty on Contai Co-operative Bank, Midnapore, West Bengal; Sarvodaya Co-operative Bank Limited, Mumbai; Manmandir Co-operative Bank Limited, Sangli,Maharashtra; Sanmitra Sahakari Bank Ltd., Pune, Maharashtra; and The Lakhvad Nagarik Sahakari Bank Limited, Lakhvad, Dist. Mehsana, Gujarat.
1 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated November 23, 2023, imposed a monetary penalty of ?1.00 lakh (Rupees One lakh only) on Contai Co-operative Bank Ltd. (the bank) for non-compliance with the directions issued by RBI on ‘Know Your Customer (KYC) Directions, 2016’. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under the provisions of section 47 A (1) (c) read with sections 46 (4) (i) and 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
Background
The statutory inspection of the bank conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2022, and examination of the Risk Assessment Report, Inspection Report and all correspondence related thereto revealed, inter alia, that the bank had failed to put in place a system of periodic review of risk categorisation of accounts. Consequently, a notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for failure to comply with the said directions, as stated therein.
After considering the bank’s reply to the notice, additional submissions made by it 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.
2 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated November 24, 2023, imposed a monetary penalty of ?1.00 lakh (Rupees One lakh only) on Sarvodaya Co-operative Bank Limited, Mumbai (the bank) for non-compliance with the specific directions issued by RBI under Supervisory Action Framework (SAF). This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under the provisions of Section 47 A (1) (c) read with Section 46 (4) (i) and Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
This action is based on the 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.
Background
The statutory inspection of the bank conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2022, and examination of the Risk Assessment Report and all correspondence related thereto, revealed, inter alia, that the bank had sanctioned fresh loans in violation of specific directions issued under SAF. Consequently, a notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for failure to comply with the said directions, as stated therein.
After considering the bank’s reply to the notice and oral submissions made by it 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.
3 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated November 24, 2023, imposed a monetary penalty of ?3.00 lakh (Rupees Three lakh only) on The Manmandir Co-operative Bank Limited, Vita (the bank) for non-compliance with the directions issued by RBI on ‘Know Your Customer (KYC) Directions, 2016’ and ‘Maintenance of Deposit Accounts - Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks’. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under the provisions of Section 47 A (1) (c) read with Sections 46 (4) (i) and Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
This action is based on the 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.
Background
The statutory inspection of the bank conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2022, and examination of the Risk Assessment Report and all correspondence related thereto, revealed, inter alia, that the bank had (i) not ensured periodic updation of KYC for high-risk customers as mandated by the RBI Directions, (ii) not conducted periodic review of risk categorization of accounts; and (iii) not conducted the annual review of inoperative/dormant accounts. Consequently, a notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for failure to comply with the said directions, as stated therein.
After considering the bank’s reply to the notice, 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.
4 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated November 24, 2023, imposed a monetary penalty of ?1.00 lakh (Rupees One lakh only) on Sanmitra Sahakari Bank Ltd., Pune (the bank) for non-compliance with the directions issued by RBI on ‘Maintenance of Deposit Accounts - Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks’. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under section 47 A(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 inspection of the bank conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2022, and examination of the Risk Assessment Report, Inspection Report and all correspondence related thereto revealed, inter alia, that the bank had collected fixed penal charges for shortfall in maintenance of minimum balance in savings bank accounts, instead of proportionate to the extent of shortfall. 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 said RBI directions, as stated therein.
After considering the bank’s reply to the notice and oral submissions made by it 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.
5 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated November 27, 2023, imposed a monetary penalty of ?2.00 lakh (Rupees Two lakh only) on The Lakhvad Nagarik Sahakari Bank Ltd., Lakhvad, Dist. Mehsana, Gujarat (the bank) for non-compliance with the directions issued by RBI on ‘Loans and advances to directors, relatives and firms/concerns in which they are interested’ read with ‘Loans and Advances to directors etc. - directors as surety/guarantors – Clarification’, and ‘Placement of Deposits with Other Banks by Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs)’. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under the provisions of section 47 A (1) (c) read with sections 46 (4) (i) and 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
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.
Background
The statutory inspection of the bank conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2022, and examination of the Inspection Report, Risk Assessment Report and all correspondence related thereto revealed, inter alia, that the bank had (i) sanctioned a loan to the relative of one of its directors and also sanctioned certain loans wherein the relatives of its directors stood as guarantors; and (ii) breached the prudential inter-bank gross exposure limit as well as the prudential inter-bank counterparty exposure limit. Consequently, a notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for failure to comply with the said directions, as stated therein.
After considering the bank’s reply to the notice and oral submissions made by it 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.
