The banks will also be provided an additional incentive of Rs 10 per bag for coin distribution in rural and semi-urban areas, the RBI said in a notification.
“With effect from September 1, 2021, an incentive of Rs 65 per bag for distribution of coins (instead of Rs 25 as earlier) will be paid on the basis of net withdrawal from currency chest (CCs), without waiting for claims from banks,” the RBI said.
The currency chest branch, it added, will pass on the incentive to the linked bank/branches for coins distributed by them on a pro-rata basis within one week from the receipt of incentives from RBI.
The circular further said with a view to meet the coin requirements of bulk customers (requirement of more than 1 bag in a single transaction), banks are advised to provide coins to such customers purely for business transactions.
The banks may also endeavour to provide such services as part of their board-approved policy on ‘Door Step Banking’ services.
“Such customers should be KYC compliant constituents of the bank and the record of coins supplied should be maintained. Banks are advised to exercise due diligence to ensure that such facility is not misused,” it added.
Currently, coins are distributed to retail customers in small lots and not to bulk customers.
The Reserve Bank has also advised the banks to enhance the engagement of their Business Correspondents (BCs) for distribution of coins to the public and incentivise such activities as per their board-approved policy.
