Time – limit Reconciliation of failed transactions at ATMs slashed

Time – limit Reconciliation of failed transactions at ATMs slashed

With Banks gaining experience in the recon of failed transactions at ATMs, Reserve Bank of India, DPSS has decided to slash the time limit for resolution of the customer complaints by the Issuing Banks from 12 working days to 7 working days.

The Notification No is : RBI/2010/11/547, DPSS.PD.No.2632 / 02.10.002 / 2010-2011 dt.May 27, 2011

The complete notification can be accessed @

http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=6437&Mode=0

The high lights of the notification are:-

1.     The time limit for resolution of customer complaints by the issuing banks shall stand reduced from 12 working days to 7 working days from the date of receipt of customer complaint. Otherwise compensation of Rs100/- for every delayed day will be due to the customer.

2.     Compensation can only be claimed if the customer’s lodges the complaint with the ATM Card Issuing Bank, within 30days of the transaction. Yes, such a time limit is necessary to encourage customers to lodge complaints as early as possible. The older the complaint is, the difficult it is trace the corresponding records.    So folks, preserve your charge slips and lodge complaints immediately. The ideal mode of complaints is handing over in person in the Branch or via email/online complaint lodgement

3.     Another important change is on the number of free transactions. The number of free transactions permitted per month at other bank ATMs to Savings Bank account holders shall be inclusive of all types of transactions, financial or non-financial. At present, 5 free transactions are permitted at other Bank ATMs. There was no clarity as to whether the number of free transactions, included non-financial transactions or not. RBI has now clarified, that the limit for free transactions will be all inclusive. It is up to the customers as to how they make use of the free transactions limit.

4.     It has been made clear that all the disputes regarding ATM failed transactions will be settled between the Issuing Bank and Acquiring Bank through the ATM system provider ONLY. The practice, if any, of bilateral arrangements outside the ATM dispute resolution mechanism is discouraged.

5.     The directive shall be effective from July 01, 2011

Banks are encouraged to widely publicize these changes at all ATM locations and also by individual intimation to customers.

These changes can be intimated individually to customers via a pamphlet with the Monthly/Quarterly statement of accounts dispatched to account holders

Implication:

Majority of the Banks have streamlined their internal systems for the effective ATM recon issues, so this will not be a major change for the ATM Recon Team.

The major change for the customers is on the ‘free transaction limit’. They have to remember financial and the non-financial transactions too. Otherwise, they will have to shell out charges. This discipline is necessary for the overall financial viability of the system.

As I always say, why use ATMs, go for POS transactions while shopping, dining, paying fees etc.

IDBI Bank joins IMPS with soft launch

IDBI Bank joins IMPS with soft launch

IDBI Bank – the only Bank in ‘OTHER PUBLIC SECTOR BANK’ group has jumped on to the IMPS Bandwagon, on 01/04/2011, via a soft launch.

I am trying to understand the logic of 01/04/2011, is it the end of a new financial year or the beginning of a new financial year

Anyhow, IDBI Bank has started off 2011-2012 with a bang, by joining IMPS on the first day itself.

The most interesting aspect of IDBI Bank is that it is the only Bank under the ‘OTHER PUBLIC SECTOR BANK’ sub-group.

RBI had to create a new sub-group i.e ‘OTHER PUBLIC SECTOR BANK’, to place IDBI Bank.

Ministry of Finance has vide its circular no. F.No. 7/96/2005-BOA dated December 31, 2007 advised Secretaries of all Ministries/Departments of Government of India that the bank may be treated on par with Nationalized Banks/State Bank of India by Govt. Departments/Public Sector Undertakings/other entities for all purposes, including deposits/bonds/investments/guarantees etc. and Government business.

Not only this, Section 10(23D) of the Income Tax Act 1961 has been amended, in terms of Finance Act 2009, incorporating 'Other Public Banks' in the expression 'Public Sector Banks' appearing therein.

One interesting document on IDBI Bank’s website is the document on :

Central Interest Subsidy Scheme on Education Loan

The same can be accessed @

http://www.idbibank.com/pdf/CentralInterestSubsidyScheme-EL-uploadontheinternet_03011011.pdf

At present, IDBI Bank is offering the subsidy scheme in 4 states of Kerala, Maharashtra, TamilNadu and Andhra Pradesh.

The scheme will be rolled out to other states, as and when the list of designated authority/authorities, is received by the Bank.

CSIS is a Central Scheme to provide Interest subsidy during the moratorium period for the educational Loans taken by students from Economically Weaker Sections to pursue Technical / Professional educational Studies in India.

Karur Vysya Bank joins IMPS with soft launch

Karur Vysya Bank joins IMPS with soft launch

Another South Indian Bank, Karur Vysya Bank joined IMPS with a soft launch on 30/03/2011

The public launch is expected by May 2011 end.

Let us wait and see the roll-out publicity campaign for the IMPS launch by Karur Vysya Bank.

What sets apart KVB’s website from other banks website, is the FAQ section.

This section is an eye-opener on the various facets of KVB and viewer can choose to click on the subject of his interest for the FAQ’s to popup.

A sample FAQ is the ‘FAQ’s for Shareholders’, which can be @

http://www.kvb.co.in/global/share_holders_faq.html

The FAQ in brief explains about the promoters of the Bank and highlights the basic information required for shareholders.

Preserve your Charge Slips-Do not destroy them immediately

Preserve your Charge Slips-Do not destroy them immediately

The Indian Banking retail customers are swiftly migrating from cash to credit/debit cards payments via the online mode/mobile mode/POS mode.

Charge Slips are the connecting node between the Payment and the Bank Account in case of POS mode.

Charge slip refers to the voucher printed after swiping and charging a debit or credit card.

With multiple Debit/Credit cards, becoming common ‘Charge Slips’ play an important role in reconciliation of the multiple Debit/Credit Cards

Majority of the POS Paper rolls are thermal based. As such, the Data printed on the POS Paper Rolls fades over a period of time. Hence, in case permanent record of the POS Slip is required, scanning is the best option.

However, it is wise to preserve the Charge Slips, till at least the Credit Card Statement or the Bank Account Statement is received. 

Once the Statement is reconciled and you are satisfied that all the Debits are genuine debits, the charge slips can be destroyed.

Tips for Storage and Image Stability

1.     Keep Dry

2.     Avoid Plastics/Solvents

3.     Avoid Sunlight

4.     Avoid Hot/Humid temperature

5.     Avoid Diaso Papers

6.     Do not Iron/Deface

SBIN00CARDS - Pay your SBI Card bill through NEFT

SBIN00CARDS - Pay your SBI Card bill through NEFT

A long outstanding demand of SBI card holders has been met by the SBI Cards Ltd.

SBI Credit Cards dues can be paid via the NEFT mode.

The IFSC code for SBI credit card remittances is SBIN00CARDS

This option has gone live from 26^th april2011 and I am sure, SBI cards have received substantial payments through the NEFT option.

To popularize this mode, SBI Cards should offer 1%cash back or reward points.

Compared to the costs of other Bill payment modes, NEFT is considerably cheaper. Moreover, the payment received is ‘final’ and there is no question of ‘cheque bounce’.

Hence, the savings have to be shared with the credit card holders too.

It has been more than 2 years, since RBI has introduced separate Transaction Code (No. 52) in NEFT for credit card transactions. In the last couple of years, many Banks have introduced the NEFT option for remitting credit card dues.

However, SBI Cards has introduced just now.

Hm, ‘Better Late than Never’.