ON 06 OCTOBER 2016 RBI ISSUED OPERATING GUIDELINES FOR PAYMENT BANK ( IPPB IS ALSO A PAYMENT BANK )
RBI/2016-17/80
DBR.NBD.No.25/16.13.218/2016-17
October 6, 2016
Chief Executive Officers of Payments Banks
Madam / Dear Sir,
Operating Guidelines for Payments Banks
Please refer to the Guidelines for Licensing of Payments Banks (‘Licensing Guidelines’) dated November 27, 2014, under which in-principle approvals/ licences were issued to the applicants for setting up of the payments banks.
2. The need for separate Operating Guidelines for payments banks was examined, considering the differentiated nature of business and financial inclusion focus of these banks. Accordingly, the Operating Guidelines for payments banks are given in the Annex.
3. The prudential frameworks for market risk and operational risk are being examined and the instructions in this regard will be issued separately.
4. These Operating Guidelines are supplementary to the Licensing Guidelines and take immediate effect.
Yours faithfully,
(S S Barik)
Chief General Manager-in-Charge
Annexure
Operating Guidelines for Payments Banks
1. Prudential regulation
The prudential regulatory framework for payments banks (PBs) will largely be drawn from the Basel standards. However, given the financial inclusion focus of these banks, it will be suitably calibrated.
1.1. Capital adequacy framework
Minimum Capital Requirement 15%
Common Equity Tier 1 6%
Additional Tier I 1.5%
Minimum Tier I capital 7.5%
Tier 2 capital 7.5%
Capital Conservation Buffer Not Applicable
Counter-cyclical capital buffer Not applicable
Pre-specified Trigger for conversion of AT1 CET1 at 6% up to March 31, 2019, and 7% thereafter
1.2 Large exposures limits (for investments in deposits of scheduled commercial banks)
The exposure in this regard to an individual scheduled commercial bank shall not be more than five per cent of the total outside liabilities of the PB.
1.3 Capital measurement approaches
Credit Risk Basel II Standardized Approach for credit risk
1.4 Inter-bank borrowings
PBs will be permitted to participate in the call money and CBLO market as both borrowers and lenders. These borrowings would, however, be subject to the limit on call money borrowings as applicable to scheduled commercial banks.
1.5 Investment classification and valuation norms
i. PBs shall, on any given day, maintain a minimum investment to the extent of not less than 75 per cent of ‘demand deposit balances’ – DDB (including the earnest money deposits of BCs) as on three working days prior to that day, in Government securities/Treasury Bills with maturity up to one year that are recognized by RBI as eligible securities for maintenance of Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR).
ii. Further, PBs shall, on any given day, maintain balances in demand and time deposits with other scheduled commercial banks, which shall not be more than 25 per cent of its DDB (including the earnest money deposits of BCs) as on three working days prior to that day.
iii. The investments and deposits made according to (i) and (ii) above, together shall not be less than 100 per cent of the DDB (including the earnest money deposits of BCs) of the PB unless it is less to the extent of balances kept with RBI.
Note:Balances with other scheduled commercial banks in excess of 25 per cent of DDB (including the earnest money deposits of BCs), is permissible to the extent the excess amount is sourced from funds other than DDB (including the earnest money deposits of BCs).
iv. PBs will not be allowed to classify any investment, other than those made out of their own funds, as HTM category. The investments made out of their own funds shall not, in any case be, in assets or investments in respect of which the promoter / a promoter group entity is a direct or indirect obligor.
v. PBs will not be allowed to participate in ‘when issued’ and ‘short sale’ transactions.
vi. PBs will be permitted to invest in bank CDs within the limit applicable to bank deposits.
vii. The other directions on the subject as applicable to scheduled commercial banks (see theMaster Circular RBI/2015-16/97 DBR No BP.BC.6/21.04.141/2015-16 dated July 1, 2015 and the circulars issued thereafter).
1.6 Restrictions on loans and advances (including lending to NBFCs) including regulatory limits
PBs will not be permitted to lend to any person including their directors. However, PBs may lend to their own employees out of the bank’s own funds, as per a Board approved policy outlining the caps on such loans.
1.7 Para-banking activities
PBs will not be permitted to undertake any para-banking activity except those allowed as per the Licensing Guidelines and the related FAQs issued.
1.8 Product approval
i. At the time of submitting application for licence, the PBs should submit to RBI a list of financial products they intend to offer with a clear description.
ii. Any new products proposed to be introduced thereafter should be intimated to RBI for information. If required, RBI may place suitable restrictions on the design, functioning, or other features of the product including discontinuing the product.
2. Risk management
2.1 Credit risk management including credit concentration risk
Not applicable, except as indicated in para. 1.3.
2.2 Market risk management
The provisions regarding market risk management for PBs will be as applicable to commercial banks. PBs will be permitted to use derivatives only for the purpose of hedging their foreign currency positions arising out of the activities conducted under the AD Category II authorization.
2.3 Operational risk management
Payment Banks should implement the operational risk management requirements, issued by RBI for scheduled commercial banks for operational risk, including collection of operational loss data.
2.4 Liquidity risk management
The provisions regarding liquidity risk management shall be as applicable to scheduled commercial banks, with suitable enhancements to take into account the liquidity risk profile of PBs.
2.5 Strategic and reputational risk management
The provisions regarding strategic and reputational risk management shall be as applicable to scheduled commercial banks, with suitable enhancements to take care of the reputational risk arising from use of agents.
2.6 Internal controls, audit and compliance
The provisions regarding internal controls, audit and compliance by the PBs shall be as applicable to scheduled commercial banks, with suitable enhancements to take care of the ICT related aspects and operations through agents.
3. CRR, SLR, disclosures and statutory/regulatory reports
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