Time frame prescribed by the Reserve Bank of India to different banks for clearance of local and outstation cheques.

Prescription of penalty by the Reserve Bank of India for non-clearance of cheques in the prescribed time frame

Definition and explanation of terms 'local' and 'outstation' in the context of cheque clearance by the Reserve Bank of India.

The Reserve Bank of India(RBI) has advised banks to frame their own Cheque Collection Policies (CCPs) in respect of local and outstation cheques which should include explicit mention of time frame for collection of both local and outstation cheques.

Banks have been further advised vie our circular DPSS.CO.(CHD)No.873/03.09.01/2008-09 dated November 24, 2008 to modify their CCPs in accordance with orders of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in the case No.82 of 2006 on Delays in Cheque Clearing.

Accordingly, for local cheques debit and credit shall be given on the same day or at the most the next day of their presentation in clearing. Timeframe for collection of outstation cheques drawn on state capitals/major cities/ other locations should be 7/10/14 days respectively. This timeframe is the outer limit and credit shall be afforded if the process gets completed earlier.

If there is any delay in collection beyond the prescribed period, interest at the rate specified in the cheque collection policy of the bank, shall be paid. In case the rate is not spcesified in the CCP, the applicable rate shall be the interest rate on fixed deposits for the corresponding maturity. The link to the CCP of banks has been hosted on our website www.rbi.org.in.

Local cheques are those cheques that are drawn on branches within the jurisdiction of the Local Clearing House. All other cheques would be outstation cheques. However, there are cheques called multicity cheques and at par cheques which are payable in all cities where the drawee bank has a branch irrespective of the city on which it is drawn.

Provide the details of information, guidelines, circulars, notifications and regulations made by Reserve Bank of India in chronological order for scheduled and private banks operating in India, using OTP via phone IVR and mobile phone technology for any kind of financial as well as monetary transactions to make it more convenient and secured as a system.

RBI has issued the following guidelines to make card transactions more secured:

(i) Requirement of additional factor of authentication for online transactions except Interactive Voice Response (IVR) transactions was enabled, vide, circular RBI / DPSS NO. 1501 / 02.14.003 / 2008 - 2009 dated February 18, 2009. This circular has been placed on RBI website at the link
http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=4844&Mode=0

(ii) Requirement of additional factor of authentication/validation extended to IVR transaction with effect from February 1, 2011 vide, circular DPSS .CO. NO. 1503 / 02.14.003 / 2010 - 2011 dated December 31, 2010. This circular has been placed on the RBI website at the link
http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=6185&Mode=0

(iii) Requirement of online alerts to customers for all types of card transaction at all channels irrespective of the amount was made applicable, vide, circular DPSS. CO. PD. 2224 / 02.14.003 / 2010 - 2011 dated March 29, 2011. This circular has been placed on the RBI website at the link
http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=6309&Mode=0

ATM transaction is failed due to technical/network problem. Amount is not dispensed but account is debited in such circumstances. What are the rules for refund/credit of such amount? Such refund should be made within how many days?

Banks have been advised by the Reserve Bank of India, vide, circular DPSS. PD. No. 2632 / 02.10.002 / 2010 - 2011 dated May 27, 2011 that:

1. Effective from July 1, 2011, banks have to reimburse the customers, the amount wrongfully debited on account of failed ATM transactions within a maximum period of 7 working days from the receipt of the customer complaint.

2. Banks have to pay customers Rs. 100/- per day for delays beyond 7 working days from the date of receipt of the complaint.

If the complaint is not lodged within 30 days of transaction, the customer is not entitled for any compensation for delay in resolving his / her complaint.

1. The date of implement of new cheques with printed name and account of cheque owner in the recognized Banks.

Reserve Bank of India vide its circular DPSS.CO.CHD.No./ 1112 / 04.07.05 / 2011-12 dated December 27, 2011 advised all banks providing cheque facility to their customers to issue only 'CTS-2010' standard cheques across the country by September 30, 2012. Account number in such cheques should be pre-printed for current account holders and corporate customers and as far as possible to other category of customers.

However, printing the name of the account holder was not mandated by Reserve Bank of India. RBI circular issued in this regard (DPSS.CO.CHD.No. 1832 / 04.07.05 / 2009-10 dated February 22, 2010) may be referred for the purpose.

Copies of the circulars referred to above are available on the website of Reserve Bank of India under the following links :
http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/ NotificationUser.aspx?Id=6901&Mode=0

2. The old cheques got issued prior to the date of implement of new cheques (i.e. during the year 2006) from the recognized Banks are applicable or not after the date of implement of new cheques.

Reserve Bank of India vide its circular DPSS.CO.CHD.No.133/04.07.05/2013-14 dated July 16, 2013 notified that cheques which are not complying with CTS-2010 standards would continue to be valid but will be cleared at less frequent intervals from January 1, 2014 as detailed in paragraph 2(a) of the above referred circular.

Copy of the circular referred to above is available on the website of Reserve Bank of India under the following link:

3. If not applicable, kindly arrange to intimate the date of disapplicable / disimplement of old cheques along with instruction, if any.