The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted “in-principle” approval to Shivalik Mercantile Co-operative Bank Limited (the applicant) for transition into a Small Finance Bank (SFB) under the “Scheme on voluntary transition of Urban Co-operative Bank into a Small Finance Bank” (the Scheme) issued on September 27, 2018.
Shivalik Mercantile Co-operative Bank Limited is the first bank to become a Small-Finance Bank. To make significant and smooth improvements in Urban Cooperative Banks, RB also introduced the Supervisory Action Framework for Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs).
The “in-principle” approval granted will be valid for 18 months to enable the applicant to comply with the requirements under the Scheme, the Guidelines for ‘on tap’ Licensing of Small Finance Banks in the Private Sector dated December 5, 2019, and fulfill other conditions as stipulated by the RBI. On being satisfied that the applicant has complied with the requisite conditions laid down by it as part of “in-principle” approval, the RBI would consider granting it a licence for the commencement of banking business under Section 22 (1) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 as an SFB.
Background
It may be recalled that in the Statement on Developmental and Regulatory Policies, dated June 06, 2018, the RBI had announced that it would allow voluntary transition of UCBs which meet certain conditions into SFBs, in pursuance of the recommendations of High Powered Committee on UCBs (2015), chaired by Shri R Gandhi. Accordingly, Scheme on the voluntary transition of UCB into an SFB was issued on September 27, 2018.
Reserve Bank of India
[Press Release dt. 06-01-2020]