Reserve Bank of India (Small Finance Banks – Credit Facilities) Third Amendment Directions, 2026 · RBI/2026-27/151
RBI notification RBI/2026-27/151 · 23 Jun 2026
RBI notification RBI/2026-27/151 · 23 Jun 2026
Summary
Check the official recordThe Reserve Bank of India amends the Small Finance Banks – Credit Facilities Directions, 2025. The amendment adds Chapter IIA regarding credit facilities linked to specific payment instruments. The prudential treatment of a credit facility depends on the nature of the facility. This rule applies regardless of the payment channel or technology used for disbursement. This includes pre-sanctioned credit lines for UPI transactions. Banks must include terms and conditions for these credit facilities in their credit policy. Banks must comply with all other applicable regulatory requirements. Only credit facilities permitted under existing regulations are eligible for these arrangements. These instructions take effect immediately.
What you must do
Key dates
Who is affected
RBI/2026-27/151 DOR.STR.REC.129/21-07-001/2026-27 June 23, 2026
Reserve Bank of India (Small Finance Banks – Credit Facilities) Third Amendment Directions, 2026
Please refer to Reserve Bank of India (Small Finance Banks – Credit Facilities) Directions, 2025 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Directions’).
In view of circular on “Operation of Pre-Sanctioned Credit Lines at Banks through Unified Payments Interface (UPI)” dated September 04, 2023 (made applicable to SFBs with effect from February 12, 2025), which allow banks to enable transactions using the UPI system through a pre-sanctioned credit line with prior consent of the customer, it is imperative to ensure consistency in regulatory compliance towards such products across banks.
Accordingly, in exercise of the powers conferred by the sections 21 and 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and all other laws enabling the Reserve Bank in this regard, the Reserve Bank being satisfied that it is necessary and expedient in the public interest so to do, hereby issues the Amendment Directions hereinafter specified.
These Amendment Directions modify the Directions as under:
After Chapter II of the Directions, a new Chapter IIA shall be inserted as below:
Chapter IIA: Credit Facilities Linked to Specific Payment Instruments
5A. Notwithstanding the mode / channel of credit delivery or the type of payment instrument and / or underlying technology used for its disbursement, the prudential treatment of an underlying credit facility, including pre-sanctioned credit lines meant for payment transactions through UPI, shall be solely determined by the nature of the underlying credit facility, governed in terms of the applicable prudential norms.
5B. Any credit facility which is designed to be linked to a specific payment mode, shall have its terms and conditions included in the bank’s credit policy and shall comply with all other applicable regulatory requirements.
Explanation –
For avoidance of any doubt, it is clarified that only such credit facilities as are otherwise permitted to be sanctioned by a bank under the extant regulations, can be offered as part of any such arrangement.
5C. The above instructions shall be without derogation to the provisions of any other law or regulation in relation to transactions effected through any payment mechanism.
(Vaibhav Chaturvedi) Chief General Manager