Uniform provisioning pertaining to Fraud Accounts

Reserve Bank of India vide its :-

Notification No RBI/2014-15/535 DBR.No.BP.BC.83/21.04.048/2014-15 dt.April 1, 2015, addressed to All Scheduled Commercial Banks (Excluding Regional Rural Banks), has laid down  uniform provisioning rules for fraud accounts.

          The basic guidelines are compiled in paragraph 4.2.9 of Master Circular on Prudential Norms on Income Recognition, Asset Classification and Provisioning pertaining to Advances dated July 1, 2014, in terms of which, in accounts where there are potential threats for recovery on account of erosion in the value of security or non­-availability of security and existence of other factors such as frauds committed by borrowers, the asset classification, and consequent provisioning, depends upon the realisable value of security.

          The uniform provisioning norm in respect of all cases of fraud, are as under:

01) The entire amount due to the bank (irrespective of the quantum of security held against such assets), or for which the bank is liable (including in case of deposit accounts), is to be provided for over a period not exceeding four quarters commencing with the quarter in which the fraud has been detected;

02)                  However, where there has been delay, beyond the prescribed period, in reporting the fraud to the Reserve Bank, the entire provisioning is required to be made at once. In addition, Reserve Bank of India may also initiate appropriate supervisory action where there has been a delay by the bank in reporting a fraud, or provisioning there against.

At the same time,  banks must scrupulously adhere to the guidelines contained in circular DBS.CO.CFMC.BC.No.1/23.04.001/2014-15 dated July 1, 2014 on ‘Frauds – Classification and Reporting’.