**Executive Summary:**
This circular from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), dated April 6, 2018, outlines minimum standards for banks engaging service providers and their subcontractors for cash management activities. Banks must review their existing outsourcing arrangements and align them with these instructions within 90 days of the circular date. Banks are also required to have a board-approved Business Continuity Plan to manage associated risks.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Eligibility Criteria:**
* Service providers must maintain a minimum net worth of ₹1 billion.
* For existing agreements, banks must ensure the net worth criteria is met as of March 31, 2019, based on audited balance sheets submitted by June 30, 2019, or at the time of agreement renewal, whichever is earlier.
* **Physical Security Infrastructure:**
* Minimum fleet size of 300 specifically fabricated cash vans owned/leased.
* Cash must be transported in owned/leased security cash vans of the service provider or its first-level subcontractors.
* Cash vans must be specially designed LCVs with separate passenger and cash compartments, each with CCTV coverage.
* Passenger compartment must accommodate two custodians and two armed security guards (gunmen) besides the driver.
* No cash van should move without armed guards with functional weapons and valid licenses; list of employed gunmen to be furnished to police.
* Each cash van must be GPS-enabled with live monitoring and geofencing, indicating the nearest police station.
* Each cash van must have tubeless tires, wireless mobile communication, and hooters.
* Cash van routes and timings should vary to avoid predictability; staff rotation required.
* Adherence to Private Security Agencies Regulation Act, 2005, and government/state guidelines.
* Night movement of cash vans should be discouraged; cash movements during daylight hours.
* If a night halt is necessary, it must be at a police station.
* Interstate movement requires prearranged security personnel changeover at the border.
* Proper documentation, including a letter from the remitting bank, is mandatory, especially for interstate movement.
* ATM operations to be carried out only by certified personnel with minimum classroom learning and training.
* Cash handling staff must be adequately trained and certified through an accreditation process.
* Meticulous character and antecedent verification of all crew members, including police verification of the last two addresses, updated periodically and shared on a common database.
* Immediate police notification upon employee dismissal.
* Safe and secure premises for cash processing, handling, and vaulting, under electronic surveillance round the clock.
* Vault specifications should meet or exceed RBI's minimum standards for Chests, operated under joint custody, with color-coded bins.
* Availability of working fire safety gadgets in the vault, equipped with standard security systems (CCTV with 90-day recording, emergency alarm, burglar alarm, hotline to police, lighting power backup, interlocking vault entry doors).
* Separate work area from cash area; premises under armed guard security (minimum of five guards).
* Critical customer account data to be kept highly secure.
* Restricted access to switch server; limited and secured interfaces for service providers or subcontractors accessing bank's internal server.
**Impact Analysis**
**Public Sector Banks, Private Sector Banks, Foreign Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Primary Urban Cooperative Banks, State Cooperative Banks, District Central Cooperative Banks**
* Impact: These banks are directly affected by the new regulations for outsourcing cash management activities. They need to ensure their service providers and subcontractors meet the eligibility and security standards outlined in the circular. Non-compliance may lead to regulatory action.
* Action Required: Review existing outsourcing arrangements; ensure compliance with the new standards within 90 days; implement Board approved Business Continuity Plan; ensure service providers meet net worth criteria; enforce security protocols for cash vans and premises.
**Service Providers and Subcontractors**
* Impact: Service providers and their subcontractors involved in cash management for banks must now meet stricter eligibility criteria, particularly regarding net worth, and adhere to enhanced physical security standards for cash vans and premises. Failure to comply may result in the termination of contracts with banks.
* Action Required: Meet the minimum net worth requirement; upgrade cash van security features; improve premise security, including vault standards and surveillance; train and certify personnel; implement strict background checks; adhere to all guidelines related to cash handling and transportation.
Key Entities Referenced
Reserve Bank of India: The central bank of India, which issued the circular regarding cash management activities of banks.
Public Sector Banks: Banks in India that are owned by the government.
Private Sector Banks: Banks in India that are owned by private individuals or companies.
Foreign Banks: Banks operating in India that are headquartered in other countries.
Regional Rural Banks: Regional Rural Banks in India.
Primary Urban Cooperative Banks: Primary Urban Cooperative Banks in India.
State Cooperative Banks: State Cooperative Banks in India.
District Central Cooperative Banks: District Central Cooperative Banks in India.
भारतीय �रज़व र् बक�
RESERVE BANK OF INDIA
www.rbi.org.in
RBI/2017-18/152
DCM (Plg) No.3563/10.25.07/2017-18 April 06, 2018
The Chairman / Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer,
Public Sector Banks / Private Sector Banks / Foreign Banks /
Regional Rural Banks / Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks /
State Co-operative Banks / District Central Co-operative Banks.
Madam / Dear Sir,
Cash Management activities of the banks
Standards for engaging the Service Provider and its sub-contractor
It was announced vide para 11 of the Statement on Developmental and
Regulatory Policies dated April 05, 2018 that in view of the increasing reliance of
the banks on outsourced service providers and their sub-contractors in cash
management logistics, certain minimum standards will be prescribed for the
service provider / sub-contractors who are engaged by the banks for this
purpose. Accordingly, it has been decided that the banks shall put in place
certain minimum standards in their arrangements with the service providers for
cash management related activities. The details of the same are in the Annex.
Banks are advised to review their existing outsourcing arrangements and bring
them in line with these instructions within 90 days from the date of this circular.
2. Further, as the cash held with the service providers and their sub-contractors
continue to remain the property of the banks and the banks are liable for all
associated risks, the banks shall put in place appropriate Business Continuity
Plan approved by their boards to deal with any related contingencies.
Yours faithfully,
(Aviral Jain)
General Manager
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
मु�ा �बंध िवभाग, 4था तल, अमर भवन, पी.एम. मागर्, फोटर्, मुंबई 400001
Department of Currency Management, 4th Floor, Amar Building, P.M. Road, Fort, Mumbai 400001
फोन/Phone: (022) 2260 3000 / 4000 फैक्स/Fax: (022) 2266 2442 ईमेल/E-mail: cgmincdcm@rbi.org.in
�हदी आसान ह ैइसका �योग बढ़ाइय |
चेतावनीः �रज़वर् ब�क �ारा ई-मेल, डाक, एसएमएस या फोन-कॉल के ज�रए �कसी क� भी �ि�गत जानकारी जैसे ब�क के खाते का ब्यौरा,
पासवडर् आ�द नह� मांगी जाती ह।ै यह धन रखने या दने े का �स्ताव भी नह� करता है। ऐसे �स्ताव� का �कसी भी तरीके से जवाब मत दीिजए।
Caution: RBI never sends mails. SMSs or makes calls asking for personal information like bank account details,
passwords, etc. It never keeps or offers funds to anyone. Please do not respond in any manner to such offers.Annex
Standards for engaging the Service Provider and its sub-contractors
A. Eligibility Criteria
(1) Minimum net worth1 requirement of ₹ 1 billion. The net worth of at least ₹ 1
billion should be maintained at all times.
[The net worth requirement will come into force with immediate effect for all future
outsourcing agreements of the banks. In case of existing agreements, the banks
shall ensure that the net worth criteria is met as on March 31, 2019 (audited
balance sheet to be submitted to the bank concerned by June 30, 2019) or at the
time of renewal of agreement, whichever is earlier].
B. Physical / Security Infrastructure
(1) Minimum fleet size of 300 specifically fabricated cash vans (owned /
leased).
(2) Cash should be transported only in the owned / leased security cash vans
of the Service Provider or its first level sub-contractors. Each cash van
should be a specially designed and fabricated Light Commercial Vehicle
(LCV) having separate passenger and cash compartments, with a CCTV
covering both compartments.
(3) The passenger compartment should accommodate two custodians and two
armed security guards (gunmen) besides the driver.
(4) No cash van should move without armed guards. The gunmen must carry
their weapons in a functional condition along with valid gun licenses. The
Service Provider or its first level sub-contractor should also furnish the list of
its employed gunmen to the police authorities concerned.
1
Net worth will consist of ‘paid up equity capital, free reserves, balances in share premium
account and capital reserves representing surplus arising out of sale proceeds of assets but not
reserve created by revaluation of assets’ adjusted for ‘accumulated loss balance, book value of
intangible and deferred revenue expenditure, if any’.
2(5) Each cash van should be GPS enabled and monitored live with geo-fencing
mapping with the additional indication of the nearest police station in the
corridor for emergency.
(6) Each cash van should have tubeless tyres, wireless (mobile)
communication and hooters. The vans should not follow the same route and
timing repeatedly so as to become predictable. Predictable movement on
regular routes must be discouraged. Staff should be rotated and assigned
only on the day of the trip. With regard to security, additional regulations /
guidelines as prescribed by Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act,
2005, the Government of India and the State Governments from time to
time must be adhered to.
(7) Night movement of cash vans should be discouraged. All cash movements
should be carried out during daylight. There can be some relaxation in
metro and urban areas though depending on the law and order situation
specific to the place or the guidelines issued by the local police. If the cash
van has to make a night halt, it necessarily has to be in a police station. In
case of inter-state movement, changeover of security personnel at the
border crossing must be pre-arranged.
(8) Proper documentation including a letter from the remitting bank should be
carried invariably in the cash van, at all times, particularly for inter-state
movement of currency.
(9) ATM operations should be carried out only by certified personnel who have
completed minimum hours of classroom learning and training. The content
of such training may be certified by a Self-Regulatory Organisation (SRO) of
Cash-in-Transit (CIT) Companies / Cash Replenishment Agencies (CRAs)
who may tie up with agencies like National Skill Development Corporation
for delivery of the courses.
(10) The staff associated with cash handling should be adequately trained and
duly certified through an accreditation process. Certification could be carried
out through the SRO or other designated agencies.
3(11) Character and antecedent verification of all crew members associated with
cash van movement, should be done meticulously. Strict background check
of the employees should include police verification of at least the last two
addresses. Such verification should be updated periodically and shared on
a common database at industry level. The SRO can play a proactive role in
creating a common data base for the industry. In case of dismissal of an
employee, the CIT / CRA concerned should immediately inform the police
with details.
(12) Safe and secure premises of adequate size for cash processing / handling
and vaulting. The premises should be under electronic surveillance and
monitoring round the clock. Technical specifications of the vault should not
be inferior to the minimum standards for Chests prescribed by the Reserve
Bank. The vault should be operated only in joint custody and should have
colour coded bins for easier storage and retrieval of different types of
contents.
(13) All fire safety gadgets should be available and working in the vault which
should also be equipped with other standard security systems live CCTV
monitoring with recording for at least 90 days, emergency alarm, burglar
alarm, hotline with the nearest police station, lighting power backup and
interlocking vault entry doors.
(14) Work area should be separate from the cash area. The premises should be
under the security of armed guards whose number should have reference to
the scale of operations specific to the location but not less than five in any
case.
(15) Critical information like customer account data should be kept highly
secure. Access to the switch server should be restricted to banks.
Interfaces where a bank gives access to the service provider or its sub-
contractor to the bank’s internal server should be limited to relevant
information and secured.
4