Executive Summary:
This document from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) outlines guidelines allowing Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) to act as merchant acquiring banks using Aadhaar Pay, BHIM app, and POS terminals. RRBs must meet specific criteria, including IT system security, customer grievance mechanisms, and board-approved policies. RRBs must inform their respective Regional Offices of the RBI within 15 days of operationalising the merchant acquisition business and furnish requisite information to DPSS, CO, RBI, as indicated in the enclosed annex.
Key Points / Main Content:
Eligibility for Merchant Acquiring Business:
Aadhaar Pay & BHIM App:
* RRBs must have permission for mobile banking from the Reserve Bank of India.
* IT systems (CBS) must have undergone an IS Audit within six months of application.
* Necessary infrastructure for application development, transaction safety, and customer grievance handling must be in place.
* A board-approved policy on merchant acquisition for card transactions is required.
* No restrictions should be imposed on the bank for accepting deposits/withdrawals by the RBI.
* No penalty should have been imposed in the last two financial years.
POS Terminals:
* Must meet all conditions listed for Aadhaar Pay & BHIM App.
* Net worth of ₹100.00 crore or more as of March 31 of the preceding financial year.
* Minimum CRAR at 9%.
* Net NPA below 5%.
General Instructions:
* RRBs must comply with instructions and guidelines on Merchant Acquisition for card transactions and POS issued by the Department of Payment and Settlement Systems (DPSS), RBI.
* RRBs must inform their respective Regional Offices of the RBI within 15 days of starting the merchant acquisition business.
* RRBs must furnish the requisite information to DPSS, CO, RBI directly, as indicated in the enclosed annex.
Impact Analysis:
Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)
Impact: RRBs are now permitted to act as merchant acquiring banks, expanding their service offerings and potentially increasing revenue. They must meet specific eligibility criteria and adhere to RBI guidelines.
Action Required: RRBs intending to act as merchant acquiring banks must ensure they meet all specified conditions, develop necessary infrastructure, establish policies, and inform the RBI of their activities. They must also furnish the requisite information to DPSS, CO, RBI, as indicated in the enclosed annex.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI):
Impact: The RBI is responsible for overseeing the implementation of these guidelines and ensuring that RRBs comply with the specified requirements.
Action Required: The RBI needs to monitor RRBs' compliance with the guidelines, provide necessary support and guidance, and update the guidelines as needed.
Customers of RRBs:
Impact: Customers may benefit from expanded payment options and increased convenience through merchant acquiring services offered by RRBs.
Action Required: Customers should be made aware of the new services and any relevant policies or procedures.
Key Entities Referenced
Reserve Bank of India: The central bank of India, the primary regulator in this policy document.
Regional Rural Banks: Banks operating at a regional level in India, the target of this policy.
Aadhaar Pay BHIM app: A mobile payment application using the Aadhaar identification system and BHIM (Bharat Interface for Money), relevant to merchant acquiring business.
POS terminals: Point of Sale terminals, used for card transactions and part of the merchant acquiring business.
IS Audit: Information Systems Audit to ensure the IT and CBS (Core Banking System) of the bank is adequately secure.
Department of Payment and Settlement Systems, RBI: Department within the Reserve Bank of India responsible for payment and settlement systems.
Central Office Building, Mumbai, Maharashtra: Location of a Reserve Bank of India office
Dr. S.K. Kar: Chief General Manager at Reserve Bank of India
भारतीय �रज़व� ब�क
________________________RESERVE BANK OF INDIA________________________
www.rbi.org.in
RBI/2019-20/156
DOR.RRB.BL.BC.No.31/31.01.001/2019-20 February 06, 2020
The Chairmen
All Regional Rural Banks
Madam/ Sir,
Guidelines on Merchant Acquiring Business – Regional Rural Banks
As announced in para II (7) of the Statement on Developmental and Regulatory Policies issued
along with Sixth Bi-monthly Monetary Policy Statement 2019-20, it has been decided to allow
RRBs to act as merchant acquiring banks using Aadhaar Pay – BHIM app and POS terminals.
In this connection, the instructions are as under:
1. All RRBs intending to act as merchant acquiring banks (Aadhaar pay – BHIM app), shall be
permitted to deploy their own devices subject to fulfilling the conditions as under:
a) The RRB should have the permission for mobile banking from the Reserve Bank
b) Additionally, the RRB shall be required to fulfil the following conditions:
i. The bank's IT systems & CBS should have been subjected to an IS Audit not earlier than
six months from the date of application to confirm that the system is adequately secure.
ii. The bank must ensure necessary infrastructure for application development, safety and
security of the transactions and handling of customer grievance.
iii. A customer grievance redressal mechanism duly approved by the bank's board should
be in place;
iv. The bank should have a board approved policy on merchant acquisition for card
transactions;
v. There should not be any restrictions imposed on the bank for accepting deposits/
withdrawals by Reserve Bank of India.
vi. No penalty should have been imposed in last two financial years.
िविनयमन िवभाग, क�द्रीय काया�लय, 12वी ंऔर 13वी ंमंिज़ल, क�द्रीय काया�लय भवन, शहीद भगत िसंह माग�, मुंबई 400001
टेलीफोन /Tel No: 22661602, 22601000 फै�/ Fax No: 022-2270 5670, 2260 5671, 5691 2270, 2260 5692
Department of Regulation, Central Office, 12th & 13th Floor, Central Office Building, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Marg, Mumbai – 400001
Tel No: 22661602, 22601000 Fax No: 022-2270 5670, 2260 5671, 5691 2270, 2260 5692
ब�क िहंदी म� पत्राचार का �ागत करता है
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.2. All RRBs intending to act as merchant acquiring bank (POS terminals), shall be permitted to
deploy their own devices provided they meet the conditions mentioned at 1 (a) and (b) above, as
also the conditions given hereunder:
c) In the preceding financial year, the RRB should have
i. Net worth of ₹100.00 crore or more as on March 31 of the preceding financial year
ii. Minimum CRAR at 9%
iii. Net NPA below 5%.
3. Apart from meeting the above eligibility criteria, the RRBs may be required to comply with
instructions and guidelines on Merchant Acquisition for card transactions and POS issued by
Department of Payment and Settlement Systems, RBI from time to time.
4. RRBs shall inform the respective Regional Offices of Reserve Bank, within a period of 15 days
from the date of operationalising the merchant acquisition business.
5. The RRBs shall furnish the requisite information to DPSS, CO, RBI directly, as indicated in the
enclosed annex.
Yours faithfully
(Dr. S.K. Kar)
Chief General ManagerAnnex
Statement for the half year ended March …. / September ….
(to be submitted by 10th of following month)
Name of Regional Rural Bank:
Address of Regional Rural Bank:
Number of Total Number of PoS devices Number of Value of
Merchants number of enabled transactions transactions
acquired in Merchants handled handled
the current acquired during the during the
half year so far current half current half
year year
(₹)
Physical Mobile QR Others
PoS PoS
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Signature
Name:
Designation: Contact No.
Date: