Executive Summary:
This circular from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), dated June 10, 2019, revises the guidelines for Basic Savings Bank Deposit (BSBD) Accounts to improve customer service. It mandates specific minimum facilities to be offered free of charge without any requirement for minimum balance. These instructions come into effect on July 1, 2019, and banks must establish board-approved policies and operational guidelines.
Key Points / Main Content:
BSBD Account Facilities:
* Banks must offer the following basic facilities in BSBD accounts, free of charge, without requiring a minimum balance:
* Cash deposits at bank branches and ATMs/CDMs.
* Receipt/credit of money electronically or via cheque deposits from Central/State Government agencies.
* No limit on the number or value of monthly deposits.
* Minimum of four monthly withdrawals, including ATM withdrawals.
* ATM Card or ATM-cum-Debit Card
Additional Services:
* Banks may provide additional value-added services (e.g., cheque books) beyond the minimum facilities, priced in a non-discriminatory manner with disclosure.
* Availing additional services is optional for customers.
* Offering additional services does not change the account's BSBD status if minimum services remain free.
Account Restrictions:
* BSBD account holders cannot open another savings bank deposit account in the same bank.
* Customers with existing savings accounts in the same bank must close them within 30 days of opening a BSBD account.
* Banks must obtain a declaration from customers stating they do not have a BSBD account in any other bank before opening a BSBD account.
KYC/AML Compliance:
* BSBD Accounts are subject to RBI's KYC/AML instructions.
ATM Transactions:
* Instructions on free transactions for normal savings accounts at ATMs are not applicable to BSBD accounts.
* Minimum free withdrawals for BSBD account holders are available at all ATMs.
Supersession and Effective Date:
* This circular supersedes earlier instructions issued on August 10, 2012, and September 11, 2013, regarding BSBD accounts.
* The instructions are effective from July 1, 2019.
Impact Analysis:
Scheduled Commercial Banks, RRBs, Payments Banks, Small Finance Banks, and Local Area Banks:
* Impact: Banks must implement the revised guidelines for BSBD accounts, offering the mandated minimum facilities free of charge.
* Action Required: Banks must frame Board-approved policies and operational guidelines to reflect these changes by July 1, 2019.
Customers (Existing and Potential BSBD Account Holders):
* Impact: Customers benefit from enhanced free facilities on BSBD accounts, including unlimited deposits and a minimum of four free withdrawals.
* Action Required: Existing savings account holders must close other accounts within 30 days of opening a BSBD account. Potential BSBD account holders must declare that they do not have an existing BSBD account at another bank.
Key Entities Referenced
Reserve Bank of India (RBI): The central bank of India, responsible for regulating the banking sector.
All Scheduled Commercial Banks including RRBs: A group of banks regulated by RBI. RRBs likely refers to Regional Rural Banks.
All Payments Banks: A type of bank in India that can accept deposits and provide payment services, but cannot lend money.
All Small Finance Banks: A type of bank in India focused on providing basic banking services to underserved populations.
All Local Area Banks: A type of private sector bank in India operating in a limited area.
Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account (BSBDA): A zero-balance savings account designed to promote financial inclusion by providing basic banking services without minimum balance requirements.
Know Your Customer (KYC): The process banks use to verify the identity of their customers and assess potential risks associated with the relationship.
Anti-Money Laundering (AML): A set of procedures, laws and regulations designed to stop the practice of generating income through illegal actions.
RBI/2018-19/206
DBR.LEG.BC.No.47/09.07.005/2018-19 June 10, 2019
All Scheduled Commercial Banks (including RRBs)
All Payments Banks
All Small Finance Banks
All Local Area Banks
Dear Sir/ Madam
Financial Inclusion- Access to Banking Services – Basic Savings Bank Deposit
Account (BSBDA)
Please refer to our circular DBOD.No.Leg.BC.35/09.07.005/2012-13 dated August
10, 2012 on the captioned subject.
2. The Basic Savings Bank Deposit (BSBD) Account was designed as a savings
account which will offer certain minimum facilities, free of charge, to the holders of
such accounts. In the interest of better customer service, it has been decided to
make certain changes in the facilities associated with the account. Banks are now
advised to offer the following basic minimum facilities in the BSBD Account, free of
charge, without any requirement of minimum balance.
i. The deposit of cash at bank branch as well as ATMs/CDMs
ii. Receipt/ credit of money through any electronic channel or by means of
deposit /collection of cheques drawn by Central/State Government
agencies and departments
iii. No limit on number and value of deposits that can be made in a month
iv. Minimum of four withdrawals in a month, including ATM withdrawals
v. ATM Card or ATM-cum-Debit Card
The BSBD Account shall be considered a normal banking service available to all.
3. Banks are free to provide additional value-added services, including issue of
cheque book, beyond the above minimum facilities, which may/may not be priced (in
non-discriminatory manner) subject to disclosure. The availment of such additional
services shall be at the option of the customers. However, while offering such
ब��कंग �व�नयमन �वभाग, क�द्र�य कायार्लय, 12वीं और 13वी ं मंिज़ल, शह�द भगत �सहं मागर्, मुंबई 400001
Department of Banking Regulation, Central Office, 12th & 13th Floor, Shahid Bhagat Singh Marg, Mumbai - 400001
Tel No: 22661602, 22705651, Fax No: 022-2270 5670, Email ID: cgmicdbr@rbi.org.in-2-
additional services, banks shall not require the customer to maintain a minimum
balance. Offering such additional services will not make it a non-BSBD Account, so
long as the prescribed minimum services are provided free of charge.
4. The holders of BSBD Account will not be eligible for opening any other savings
bank deposit account in that bank. If a customer has any other existing savings bank
deposit account in that bank, he/she will be required to close it within 30 days from
the date of opening a BSBD Account. Further, before opening a BSBD account, a
bank should take a declaration from the customer that he/she is not having a BSBD
account in any other bank.
5. The BSBD Account shall be subject to RBI instructions on KYC/AML for opening
of bank accounts issued vide Master Direction DBR.AML.BC.No.81/14.01.001/2015-
16 dated February 25, 2016 on ‘Master Direction - Know Your Customer (KYC)
Direction, 2016’, as amended from time to time.
6. The instructions issued on free transactions available for normal savings bank
account in own-bank/other bank ATMs vide circulars
DPSS.CO.PD.No.316/02.10.002/2014-15 dated August 14, 2014 and
DPSS.CO.PD.No.659/02.10.002/2014-15 dated October 10, 2014 are not applicable
to BSBD accounts. The minimum free withdrawals available to the BSBD Account
holders can be made at all ATMs (own-bank/other bank ATMs).
7. This circular supersedes earlier instructions issued vide circulars DBOD.No.
Leg.BC.35/09.07.005/2012-13 dated August 10, 2012 on ‘Financial Inclusion-
Access to Banking Services–Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account’ and DBOD.No.
Leg.BC.52/09.07.005/2013-14 dated September 11, 2013 on ‘Financial Inclusion-
Access to Banking Services – Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account (BSBDA) –
FAQs’.
8. These instructions will come into force with effect from July 1, 2019. Banks are
advised to frame Board approved policy/ operational guidelines in this regard.
Yours faithfully
(Shrimohan Yadav)
Chief General Manager