Road ahead for co-operative banks
January 17, 2021
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The RBI has powers now to regulate UCBs on par with commercial banks. Can depositors hope for a time-bound resolution?
Distressed depositors of several Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs), including Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative (PMC) Bank, Sri Guru Raghavendra Sahakara Bank, Rupee Co-operative Bank and Kapol Co-operative Bank, have been at their wits end.
With their hard-earned money stuck in these banks, which got into trouble for various reasons – deterioration in financial position, irregularities and deficiency in governance – the depositors have been desperately looking to the banking regulator for succour.
But the wait to get their money back is becoming excruciatingly long and arduous as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) keeps extending its directions to these banks (ironically seeking to protect depositors’ interest) by three to six months. Depositors of Mumbai-based PMC Bank and Bengaluru-based Sri Guru Ragha