RBI/2010-11/83
IDMD.DOD.13 /11.08.36/2010-11

July 1, 2010

The Chairmen / Chief Executives of
All Scheduled Banks (excluding RRBs and LABs)
and All-India Term Lending and Refinancing Institutions

Dear Sir,

Master Circular - Guidelines for Issue of Certificates of Deposit

As you are aware, with a view to further widening the range of money market instruments and give investors greater flexibility in deployment of their short-term surplus funds, Certificates of Deposit (CDs) were introduced in India in 1989. Guidelines for issue of CDs are presently governed by various directives issued by the Reserve Bank of India, as amended from time to time.

2.  A Master Circular incorporating all the existing guidelines / instructions / directives on the subject has been prepared. It may be noted that this Master Circular consolidates and updates all the instructions / guidelines contained in the circulars listed in the Appendix, as far as they relate to 'guidelines for issue of CDs'. This master circular has also been placed on RBI website at www.mastercirculars.rbi.org.in

Yours faithfully,

(K K Vohra)
Chief General Manager

Encl.: As above

1.  Introduction

Certificate of Deposit (CD) is a negotiable money market instrument and issued in dematerialised form or as a Usance Promissory Note against funds deposited at a bank or other eligible financial institution for a specified time period. Guidelines for issue of CDs are presently governed by various directives issued by the Reserve Bank of India, as amended from time to time. The guidelines for issue of CDs incorporating all the amendments issued till date are given below for ready reference.

2. Eligibility

CDs can be issued by (i) scheduled commercial banks excluding Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) and Local Area Banks (LABs); and (ii) select all-India Financial Institutions that have been permitted by RBI to raise short-term resources within the umbrella limit fixed by RBI.

3. Aggregate Amount

3.1  Banks have the freedom to issue CDs depending on their requirements.

3.2 An FI may issue CDs within the overall umbrella limit fixed by RBI, i.e., issue of CD together with other instruments, viz., term money, term deposits, commercial papers and inter-corporate deposits should not exceed 100 per cent of its net owned funds, as per the latest audited balance sheet.

4. Minimum Size of Issue and Denominations

Minimum amount of a CD should be Rs.1 lakh, i.e., the minimum deposit that could be accepted from a single subscriber should not be less than Rs.1 lakh and in the multiples of Rs. 1 lakh thereafter.

5. Investors

CDs can be issued to individuals, corporations, companies, trusts, funds, associations, etc. Non- Resident Indians (NRIs) may also subscribe to CDs, but only on non-repatriable basis, which should be clearly stated on the Certificate. Such CDs cannot be endorsed to another NRI in the secondary market.

6. Maturity

6.1 The maturity period of CDs issued by banks should be not less than 7 days and not more than one year.

6.2 The FIs can issue CDs for a period not less than 1 year and not exceeding 3 years from the date of issue.

7. Discount / Coupon Rate

CDs may be issued at a discount on face value. Banks / FIs are also allowed to issue CDs on floating rate basis provided the methodology of compiling the floating rate is objective, transparent and market-based. The issuing bank / FI is free to determine the discount / coupon rate. The interest rate on floating rate CDs would have to be reset periodically in accordance with a pre-determined formula that indicates the spread over a transparent benchmark.

8. Reserve Requirements

Banks have to maintain appropriate reserve requirements, i.e., cash reserve ratio (CRR) and statutory liquidity ratio (SLR), on the issue price of the CDs.

9. Transferability

CDs in physical form are freely transferable by endorsement and delivery. CDs in demat form can be transferred as per the procedure applicable to other demat securities. There is no lock-in period for the CDs.

10. Trades in CDs

All OTC trades in CDs shall be reported within 15 minutes of the trade on the FIMMDA reporting platform.

11. Loans / Buy-backs

Banks / FIs cannot grant loans against CDs. Furthermore, they cannot buy-back their own CDs before maturity.  However, the Reserve Bank may relax these restrictions for temporary periods through a separate notification.

12. Format of CDs

Banks / FIs should issue CDs only in dematerialised form. However, according to the Depositories Act, 1996, investors have the option to seek certificate in physical form. Accordingly, if investor insists on physical certificate, the bank / FI may inform the Chief General Manager, Financial Markets Department, Reserve Bank of India, Central Office, Fort, Mumbai - 400 001 about such instances separately. Further, issuance of CDs will attract stamp duty. A format (Annex I) is enclosed for adoption by banks / FIs. There will be no grace period for repayment of CDs. If the maturity date happens to be holiday, the issuing bank should make payment on the immediate preceding working day. Banks / FIs may, therefore, so fix the period of deposit that the maturity date does not coincide with a holiday to avoid loss of discount / interest rate.

13. Security Aspect

Since CDs in physical form are freely transferable by endorsement and delivery, it will be necessary for banks to see that the certificates are printed on good quality security paper and necessary precautions are taken to guard against tampering with the document. They should be signed by two or more authorised signatories.

14. Payment of Certificate

14.1 Since CDs are transferable, the physical certificates may be presented for payment by the last holder. The question of liability on account of any defect in the chain of endorsements may arise. It is, therefore, desirable that banks take necessary precautions and make payment only by a crossed cheque. Those who deal in these CDs may also be suitably cautioned.

14.2 The holders of dematted CDs will approach their respective depository participants (DPs) and give transfer / delivery instructions to transfer the demat security represented by the specific ISIN to the 'CD Redemption Account' maintained by the issuer. The holders should also communicate to the issuer by a letter / fax enclosing the copy of the delivery instruction they had given to their respective DP and intimate the place at which the payment is requested to facilitate prompt payment. Upon receipt of the Demat credit of CDs in the "CD Redemption Account", the issuer, on maturity date, would arrange to repay to holders / transferors by way of Banker's cheque / high value cheque, etc.

15. Issue of Duplicate Certificates

15.1 In case of the loss of physical certificates,duplicate certificates can be issued after compliance with the following:

1. A notice is required to be given in at least one local newspaper;
2. Lapse of a reasonable period (say 15 days) from the date of the notice in the newspaper; and
3. Execution of an indemnity bond by the investor to the satisfaction of the issuer of CDs

15.2 The duplicate certificate should be issued only in physical form. No fresh stamping is required as a duplicate certificate is issued against the original lost CD. The duplicate CD should clearly state that the CD is a Duplicate one stating the original value date, due date, and the date of issue (as "Duplicate issued on ________").

16. Accounting

Banks / FIs may account the issue price under the Head "CDs issued" and show it under deposits. Accounting entries towards discount will be made as in the case of "cash certificates". Banks / FIs should maintain a register of CDs issued with complete particulars.

17. Standardised Market Practices and Documentation

Fixed Income Money Market and Derivatives Association of India (FIMMDA) may prescribe, in consultation with the RBI, for operational flexibility and smooth functioning of the CD market, any standardised procedure and documentation that are to be followed by the participants, in consonance with the international best practices. Banks / FIs may refer to the detailed guidelines issued by FIMMDA in this regard on June 20, 2002.

18. Reporting

18.1 Banks should include the amount of CDs in the fortnightly return under Section 42 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 and also separately indicate the amount so included by way of a footnote in the return.

18.2 Further, banks / FIs should submit a fortnightly return, as per the format given in Annex II, to the Chief General Manager, Financial Markets Department, Reserve Bank of India, Central Office Building, Fort, Mumbai - 400 001, Fax: 91-22-22630981 / 22634824 within 10 days from the end of the fortnight date.  Additionally banks are also required to send the requisite information in the format as per Annex II of this Master Circular in an MS Excel/ CSV file via e-mail to cgmfmd@rbi.org.in within 10 days from the end of the fortnight. With effect from the fortnight ending July 2, 2010, data on issuance of Certificates of Deposits (CD), which are being reported in physical form/through e-mail shall also be concurrently reported on the web-based module under the Online Returns Filing System (ORFS).

Appendix
List of Circulars