The Reserve Bank of India has imposed a monetary penalty of Rs. 2.00 lakh (Rupees Two lakh only) on the Almora Urban Cooperative Bank Ltd., Almora, Uttarakhand, in exercise of the powers vested in it, under the provisions of Section 47 A (1) (b) read with Section 46 (4) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 ( As Applicable to Co-operative Societies), for violation of the directive/ guideline of the Reserve Bank of India on loans and advances to directors/ their relatives/ concerns in which they are interested.

The Reserve Bank of India had issued a Show Cause Notice (SCN) to the bank, in response to which the bank submitted a written reply. Based on careful examination of the facts of the matter and the reply of the bank, Reserve Bank of India came to the conclusion that the violation was substantiated and warranted imposition of penalty.

S. K. Gaonkar

Assistant Manager

Related party lending restrictions prompted enforcement action and a monetary penalty to enforce compliance with supervisory directives. The regulator determined, after issuing a Show Cause Notice and considering the bank's written reply, that Almora Urban Cooperative Bank Ltd. had violated directives restricting loans and advances to directors, their relatives and related concerns; accordingly, the regulator imposed a monetary penalty under its statutory powers applicable to cooperative societies to enforce related party lending limits and compliance obligations.