Union Bank of India was hit with a ₹63.60 lakh fine by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for not meeting certain regulatory standards. The May 23, 2025, penalty order lists non-compliance with RBI's rules on collateral-free agricultural loans as well as violations of Section 26A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
The decision comes after the RBI examined Union Bank's financial situation as of March 31 in 2023 and 2024 as part of its regular inspections under the Statutory Inspections for Supervisory Evaluation (ISE) program.
Two significant infractions were found during the inspections:
Delay in Transfer of Depositor Education and Awareness Fund:
The bank did not make the required timely transfer of eligible unclaimed funds to the Depositor Education and Awareness (DEA) Fund.
Based on these findings, the RBI issued a show-cause notice to the bank, asking it to explain why a penalty should not be imposed. After reviewing the bank’s written response and oral submissions during a hearing, the RBI concluded that the violations were valid and warranted financial penalties.
The RBI emphasized that the penalty is strictly related to regulatory compliance shortcomings and does not question the legality or validity of the bank’s agreements with its customers. It also noted that this action is without prejudice to any further actions that may be taken in the future.
This enforcement reflects RBI’s ongoing commitment to ensuring banks adhere strictly to rules, particularly those aimed at protecting depositors and supporting priority sectors like agriculture.
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