RBI abolishes RTGS and NEFT transactions processing charges. Banks to pass benefits to customers

RBI abolishes RTGS and NEFT transactions charges, ATM Fee Structure also under review.

The Reserve Bank levies minimum charges on banks for transactions routed through its Real Time Gross Settlement System (RTGS) meant for large-value instantaneous fund transfers and the National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) System for other fund transfers. Banks, in turn, levy charges on their customers.

In order to provide an impetus to digital funds movement, RBI has decided to do away with the charges levied by the Reserve Bank for transactions processed in the RTGS and NEFT systems.

Banks will be required, in turn, to pass these benefits to their customers. Instructions to banks in this regard will be issued within a week.

This has been stated in the Statement on Developmental and Regulatory Policies released by the Reserve Bank of India today. 

Apart from the abolishing the NEFT/RTGS charges, the RBI has also set up a Committee to Review the ATM Interchange Fee Structure. The Committee is expected to submit its recommendations within two months of its first meeting. The Composition and Terms of Reference of the Committee will be issued within a week.