Four PSU Banks fined for violation of KYC norms by RBI

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a penalty of Rs 1.75 crore on four public-sector banks, including PNB and UCO Bank, for non-compliance with KYC requirement and norms for opening of current accounts. While PNB, Allahabad Bank and UCO Bank have been fined Rs 50 lakh each, a Rs 25-lakh penalty has been imposed on Corporation Bank.

Giving details, the RBI said the penalty has been imposed for non-compliance with certain provisions of directions issued by it on know your customer norms or anti-money laundering standards and opening of current accounts. The action, however, is based on the deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the banks with their customers, the RBI added.

In a stock exchange filing on Tuesday, UCO Bank said, “We inform that the RBI in exercise of powers conferred under Section 47 (A) (1) (c) read with Section section 51 and 46 (4) (1) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, has imposed a penalty of Rs 5 million (Rs 50 lakh) on UCO Bank for non-compliance of RBI directives on ‘KYC norms/AML standards/CFT/obligation of banks and financial institutions under PMLA 2002’ and also on ‘opening of current accounts by banks — need for discipline’.”

Similarly, Allahabad Bank, in a stock exchange filing, said the RBI has imposed a penalty of Rs 50 lakh on the bank for non-compliance of the directions issued the by RBI on “KYC norms/AML standards” and “opening of current accounts”.