**Executive Summary**
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a monetary penalty of ₹38.60 lakh on UCO Bank due to non-compliance with certain directions related to savings deposits, locker rent, and credit information reporting. The penalty was issued following a Statutory Inspection for Supervisory Evaluation (ISE 2025) with reference to the bank's financial position as of March 31, 2025, and an order dated February 16, 2026. The press release is dated February 20, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Penalty Imposition:**
* RBI imposed a monetary penalty of ₹38.60 lakh on UCO Bank.
* The penalty is due to non-compliance with RBI directions on savings deposits, locker rent, and credit information reporting.
* The action is based on powers conferred on RBI under specified sections of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, and the Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act, 2005.
* **Basis for Penalty:**
* The Statutory Inspection for Supervisory Evaluation (ISE 2025) of the bank was conducted.
* A notice was issued to the bank for non-compliance with RBI directions.
* The RBI sustained the following charges against the bank:
* Failure to pay interest on certain Savings Bank Deposit accounts.
* Failure to report credit-related Self Help Group member level data to Credit Information Companies.
* Failure to refund the proportionate amount of advance locker rent collected in case of premature surrender of lockers.
* **Disclaimer:**
* The action is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance.
* The action is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers.
* The imposition of a monetary penalty is without prejudice to any other action that may be initiated by RBI against the bank.
**Impact Analysis**
**UCO Bank**
* **Impact:** Faces a monetary penalty of ₹38.60 lakh and potential reputational damage due to non-compliance.
* **Action Required:** Pay the penalty and implement corrective measures to ensure compliance with RBI directions to avoid further penalties or actions.
**Customers of UCO Bank**
* **Impact:** Customers who did not receive interest on savings deposits or were not refunded advance locker rent may be directly affected.
* **Action Required:** May need to verify their accounts to ensure proper interest payment and refunds in cases of premature locker surrender.
**Self Help Groups (SHGs)**
* **Impact:** Failure to report SHG member level credit data can affect the availability of credit to SHG members.
* **Action Required:** SHGs may need to ensure that UCO Bank properly reports credit related data to Credit Information Companies.
Key Entities Referenced
Reserve Bank of India (RBI): The regulator imposing the monetary penalty.
UCO Bank: The bank on which the monetary penalty is imposed.
Banking Regulation Act, 1949: Law under which penalty is imposed.
Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act, 2005: Law under which penalty is imposed.
प्रेस प्रकाशनी PRESS RELEASE
भारतीय ररज़र्व बैंक
RESERVE BANK OF INDIA
वेबसाइट
:
www.rbi.org.in/hindi
संचार वर्भाग, केंद्रीय कायाालय, शहीद भगत ससिंह मागा, फोटा, म िंबई - 400 001
Website : www.rbi.org.in Department of Communication, Central Office, Shahid Bhagat Singh Marg, Fort,
ई-मेल/email : helpdoc@rbi.org.in Mumbai - 400 001 फोन/Phone: 022 - 2266 0502
February 20, 2026
Reserve Bank of India imposes monetary penalty on UCO Bank
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated February 16, 2026,
imposed a monetary penalty of ₹38.60 lakh (Rupees Thirty Eight Lakh Sixty
Thousand only) on UCO Bank (the bank) for non-compliance with certain directions
issued by RBI on ‘Periodicity of payment of interest on savings deposits’, ‘Locker
Rent’ and ‘Credit Information Reporting in respect of Self Help Group (SHG)
members’. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI
under the provisions of section 47A(1)(c) read with section 46(4)(i) and 51(1) of the
Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and section 25(1)(iii) read with section 23(4) of the
Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act, 2005.
The Statutory Inspection for Supervisory Evaluation (ISE 2025) of the bank was
conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2025.
Based on supervisory findings of non-compliance with the provisions of 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 provisions of RBI directions.
After considering the bank’s reply to the notice and additional submissions made
by it, RBI found that the following charges against the bank were sustained,
warranting imposition of monetary penalty:
i. The bank did not pay any interest on certain Savings Bank Deposit accounts;
ii. The bank did not report credit related Self Help Group member level data to Credit
Information Companies; and
iii. The bank did not refund the proportionate amount of advance locker rent collected
in case of premature surrender of locker by certain customers.
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 monetary penalty is without prejudice
to any other action that may be initiated by RBI against the bank.
(Brij Raj)
Press Release: 2025-2026/2148 Chief General Manager