MANU/RPRL/0189/2016

Ministry : Reserve Bank of India

Department/Board : RBI

Press Release No. : 2016-2017/281

Date : 01.08.2016

RBI releases Guidelines for 'on tap' Licensing of Universal Banks in the Private Sector

The Reserve Bank of India today released on its website, "Guidelines for 'on tap' Licensing of Universal Banks in the Private Sector".

Some of the key aspects of the Guidelines include: (i) resident individuals and professionals having 10 years of experience in banking and finance at a senior level are also eligible to promote universal banks; (ii) large industrial houses are excluded as eligible entities but are permitted to invest in the banks up to 10 per cent; (iii) Non-Operative Financial Holding Company (NOFHC) has been made non-mandatory in case of promoters being individuals or standalone promoting/converting entities who/which do not have other group entities; (iv) Not less than 51 per cent of the total paid-up equity capital of the NOFHC shall be owned by the promoter/promoter group, instead being wholly owned by the promoter group; and (v) Existing specialised activities have been permitted to be continued from a separate entity proposed to be held under the NOFHC subject to prior approval from the Reserve Bank and subject to it being ensured that similar activities are not conducted through the bank as well.

Key features of the guidelines:

(I) Eligible Promoters

(i) Individuals/professionals who are 'residents' and have 10 years of experience in banking and finance at a senior level.

(ii) Entities/groups in the private sector that are 'owned and controlled by residents' [as defined in FEMA Regulations, as amended from time to time] and have a successful track record for at least 10 years, provided that if such entity/group has total assets of ` 50 billion or more, the non-financial business of the group does not account for 40 per cent or more in terms of total assets/in terms of gross income.

(iii) Existing non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) that are 'controlled by residents' and have a successful track record for at least 10 years. For the sake of clarity, it is added here that any NBFC, which is a part of the group that has total assets of