RBI slaps HDFC Bank with Rs 1 cr. fine for KYC non-compliance

TIL Desk/Business/New Delhi/ The Reserve Bank of India has imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 1 crore on HDFC Bank for non-compliance of Know Your Customer norms. “The penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers vested in RBI under the provisions of section 47 A (1) (c) read with section 46 (4) (i) of the Banking Regulation Act 1949, taking into account the failure of the bank to adhere to the aforesaid direction issued by RBI,” said the central bank in a statement.

This action 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 bank with its customers, the RBI added. This action 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 bank with its customers, the RBI added.

It had made observations following an on-site inspection for supervisory evaluation of HDFC Bank for the financial year ended March 31, 2017. A scrutiny of 39 current accounts opened by its customers for bidding in initial public offer was conducted.  The RBI said HDFC Bank failed to exercise ongoing due diligence in those accounts. “It was observed that the transactions effected in these current accounts were disproportionate to the declared income and profile of the customers.”