Banking Codes and Standards Board of India (BCSBI)::
In November 2003, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) constituted the Committee on Procedures and Performance Audit of Public Services under the Chairmanship of Shri S.S.Tarapore (former Deputy Governor) to address the issues relating to availability of adequate banking services to the common person. The mandate to the Committee included identification of factors that inhibited the attainment of best customer services and suggesting steps to improve the quality of banking services to individual customers. The Committee felt that in an effort to continuously upgrade the package of services that banks offered to their customers, there was a need for benchmarking of such services. After an in-depth study at the grass-roots level, the Committee concluded that there was an institutional gap for measuring the performance of banks against a bench mark reflecting the best practices (Code and Standards). Therefore, the Committee recommended setting up of the Banking Codes and Standards Board of I ndia (BCSBI). BCSBI was set up to ensure that the common person as a consumer of financial services from the banking Industry is in no way at a disadvantageous position and really gets what he/she has been promised.
The Scheme of Banking Ombudsman, which has been functioning for quite some time, does not look into systemic issues with a view to enforcing a prescribed quality of service. Ideally, such a function should be performed by a Self-Regulatory Organisation (SRO) but in view of the existing framework of the banking sector in India, it was felt that an independent, autonomous Board will be best suited for the function. Therefore, Dr. Y.V. Reddy, Governor, Reserve Bank of India, in his Monetary Policy Statement (April 2005) announced setting up of the Banking Codes and Standards Board of India in order to ensure that a comprehensive code of conduct for fair treatment of customers was evolved and adhered to.
The Banking Codes and Standards Board of India was registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 in February 2006. It functions as an independent and autonomous body. Membership of BCSBI is voluntary and open to scheduled banks. Initially the membership of BCSBI was open to scheduled commercial banks and has now been extended to include Regional Rural Banks and select Urban Co-operative Banks.
The general superintendence, direction and control of the affairs and funds of the Society is vested in the Governing Council (constituted by RBI) consisting of members drawn from different disciplines such as banking, economics, service etc. The first Governing Council relinquished office in December 2011 after which a new Governing Council was constituted.
In November 2003, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) constituted the Committee on Procedures and Performance Audit of Public Services under the Chairmanship of Shri S.S.Tarapore (former Deputy Governor) to address the issues relating to availability of adequate banking services to the common person. The mandate to the Committee included identification of factors that inhibited the attainment of best customer services and suggesting steps to improve the quality of banking services to individual customers. The Committee felt that in an effort to continuously upgrade the package of services that banks offered to their customers, there was a need for benchmarking of such services. After an in-depth study at the grass-roots level, the Committee concluded that there was an institutional gap for measuring the performance of banks against a bench mark reflecting the best practices (Code and Standards). Therefore, the Committee recommended setting up of the Banking Codes and Standards Board of I ndia (BCSBI). BCSBI was set up to ensure that the common person as a consumer of financial services from the banking Industry is in no way at a disadvantageous position and really gets what he/she has been promised.
The Scheme of Banking Ombudsman, which has been functioning for quite some time, does not look into systemic issues with a view to enforcing a prescribed quality of service. Ideally, such a function should be performed by a Self-Regulatory Organisation (SRO) but in view of the existing framework of the banking sector in India, it was felt that an independent, autonomous Board will be best suited for the function. Therefore, Dr. Y.V. Reddy, Governor, Reserve Bank of India, in his Monetary Policy Statement (April 2005) announced setting up of the Banking Codes and Standards Board of India in order to ensure that a comprehensive code of conduct for fair treatment of customers was evolved and adhered to.
The Banking Codes and Standards Board of India was registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 in February 2006. It functions as an independent and autonomous body. Membership of BCSBI is voluntary and open to scheduled banks. Initially the membership of BCSBI was open to scheduled commercial banks and has now been extended to include Regional Rural Banks and select Urban Co-operative Banks.
The general superintendence, direction and control of the affairs and funds of the Society is vested in the Governing Council (constituted by RBI) consisting of members drawn from different disciplines such as banking, economics, service etc. The first Governing Council relinquished office in December 2011 after which a new Governing Council was constituted.
