RBI asks banks to not turn away senior citizens, differently-abled people

Mumbai: The Reserve Bank on Wednesday said banks should remain sensitive to requirements of senior citizens as well as differently-abled persons and should not turn them away from branches in order to promote digital transactions.

A set of instructions will be issued by the RBI by this month end.

It has been reported that banks are discouraging or turning away senior citizens and differently abled persons from availing banking facilities in branches.

"Notwithstanding the need to push digital transactions and use of ATMs, it is imperative to be sensitive to the requirements of senior citizens and differently abled persons. It has been decided to instruct banks to put in place explicit mechanisms for meeting the needs of such persons so that they do not feel marginalised," it said.

Ombudsmen will also be advised to pay heed to complaints in this context, it said.

Besides, RBI also permitted co-operative banks to open current accounts.

The regulatory norms have been eased in order to enable all co-operative banks to open current accounts and maintain Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) with the Reserve Bank, it said.

"All the regional offices of the Reserve Bank have been advised to issue no objection certificates for opening current accounts for all licensed co-operative banks other than those under all-inclusive directions," it said.

At present, non-scheduled co-operative banks (NSCBs) face problems in opening current accounts with the Reserve Bank on account of certain requirements prescribed for the purpose.

As a result, co-operative banks are constrained to maintain CRR balances with public sector banks, state co- operative banks and district central co-operative banks, and these balances are considered as inter-bank deposits.