

RBI cracked the whip on banks in 2025—just not as hard
Mint analysis found.While the number of instances rose from 26 in 2023, 30 in 2024, to 38 in 2025, the size of the penalty shrank. These include fines on the public sector, private sector, foreign banks, small finance banks, and payments banks.These penalties totalled ₹25.5 crore in 2025, while the median amount was ₹55.7 lakh.
In comparison, RBI fined banks a total of ₹29.5 crore and ₹53.3 crore in 2024 and 2023 respectively. In these preceding years, the median fines were at ₹98.2 lakh and ₹1 crore respectively, data showed.An email sent to RBI seeking comments remained unanswered.“The RBI does not have a publicly available framework for fines and they are based on what will drive seriousness and are usually (levied) to set an example,” said Vivek Iyer, partner and national leader of financial services-risk advisory at Grant Thornton Bharat.Iyer said that fines are never the first option for RBI; they are preceded by a showcase notice and a response from the entity concerned.
When the response to the notice is unsatisfactory, the regulator imposes a fine. The regulator also makes a point by issuing the penalty, since boards of financial institutions see penalties as a serious message from the regulator.According to Iyer, RBI is taking a more consultative approach and cannot be seen as levying higher fines at a time when the government is pushing for deregulation and optimum regulation.
“This shows that the RBI will engage with an entity, but its tolerance for non-compliance is still the same,” said Iyer.In 2025, RBI levied the largest fine of ₹4.3 crore on Jammu and Kashmir Bank, in two tranches: ₹3.3 crore in January and ₹99.3 lakh in December. The fine in January was on account of the bank allowing basic savings
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