TITLE: Reserve Bank of India Establishes Currency Distribution and Exchange Scheme for Bank Branches
BODY:
On July 20, 2016, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued a Master Direction establishing the Currency Distribution and Exchange Scheme (CDES) to incentivise banks to provide enhanced customer services related to note and coin exchange. The scheme operates under Section 45 of the RBI Act, 1934, and Section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, and supports the RBI's Clean Note Policy objectives.
The CDES provides financial incentives across four service categories. Banks opening and maintaining currency chests in underbanked states with populations below 100,000 receive up to 50 percent reimbursement of capital expenditure (capped at ₹50 lakh per chest), with enhanced rates of up to 100 percent in the North Eastern region. For revenue costs, banks receive 50 percent reimbursement for the first three years (five years in the North Eastern region). Banks exchanging soiled notes receive ₹2 per packet for denominations up to ₹50, while adjudication of mutilated banknotes attracts ₹2 per piece. Coin distribution over the counter is incentivised at ₹25 per bag, with payments made automatically based on currency chest withdrawals without requiring separate claims.
The scheme also incentivises installation of cash-related retail service machines, including cash recyclers and automated teller machines (ATMs) dispensing lower denomination notes (up to ₹100). Reimbursement rates vary by location: metro and urban areas receive 50 percent of actual costs (capped at ₹2,00,000), while semi-urban and rural areas receive 60 percent (capped at ₹2,50,000).
Banks must submit annual plans to RBI Issue Offices by April 15 each year detailing proposed machine installations and costs for the July to June financial year. Claims for machine installation incentives must be submitted quarterly within 30 days of quarter-end through the bank's link office, following full vendor payment.
REFERENCES:
Reserve Bank of India. Master Direction on Currency Distribution & Exchange Scheme (CDES). RBI/DCM/2016-17/36. July 20, 2016. Available at: www.rbi.org.in