RBI panel recommends sweeping changes in banking structure

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recommended sweeping changes in the banking structure.

According to media reports, an RBI panel has suggested the setting up of specialised banks to cater to low income households to ensure that all citizens have bank accounts by 2016.

The panel has also suggested that the facility for withdrawal, payment and deposit should be set up within a 15-minutes walking distance anywhere in the country.

The panel, headed by ex-ICICI Bank executive director Nachiket Mor, was set up by Raghuram Rajan on the day of his taking over as the RBI Governor, to suggest steps for promoting financial inclusion.

The panel has advocated the setting up of 'Payments Banks' to "provide payment services and deposit products to small businesses and low-income households" with a maximum balance of Rs 50,000 per customer.

These banks can be set up with minimum capital requirement of Rs 50 crore, one-tenth of the Rs 500 crore required for full-service bank.

Permission to banks for pricing farm loans below base rate should be withdrawn, the Mor report said.

It has also been suggested that Aadhaar card should be used automatically to open a bank account.

RBI is currently sifting through the application of 25 companies to get into the banking fray for which one of the key eligibility criteria is their vision for financial inclusion.