RBI cancels banking licence of Paytm Payments Bank

The banking license granted to Paytm Payments Bank Limited under Section 22(4) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (the "BR Act") was revoked by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday, April 24, 2026, with effect from the end of business on that day.

As a result, Paytm Payments Bank Limited is immediately barred from engaging in "banking" as that term is defined in Section 5(b) or any other activity listed under Section 6 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, according to an RBI circular.

The regulatory agency said it will make an application for winding up of the bank before the High Court.

It said Paytm Payments Bank Limited has enough liquidity to repay its entire deposit liability upon winding up of the bank.

The Reserve Bank said it cancelled the licence of the Paytm Payments Bank Limited because the affairs of the bank were “conducted in a manner detrimental to the interest of the bank and its depositors.”

“Thus, the bank is not complying with Section 22 (3) (b) of the BR Act,” it said.

Besides the “general character of the management of the bank is prejudicial to the interest of depositors as also the public interest. Thus, the bank is not complying with provisions of Section 22 (3) (c) of the BR Act,” it said. 

It said no useful purpose or public interest would be served by allowing the bank to continue as envisaged in Section 22 (3) (e) of the BR Act.

The action was taken because the bank failed to comply with the conditions stipulated in the Payments Bank license issued to it, thereby violating the provisions of Section 22 (3)(g) of the BR Act, the central agency said.