The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced new rules to make banking more inclusive and easier to use.
The goal is simple: ensure every customer—especially those in rural and semi-urban areas—can access banking services without facing language barriers.
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Making Banking Customer-Friendly
Under the updated guidelines, banks must follow a Board-approved policy covering customer service, branch management, and multilingual communication.
Key requirements include:
All official communication must be in Hindi, English, and the relevant regional language.
Branch signage, instructions, and grievance details should be displayed in the local language.
Passbooks, account opening forms, pay-in slips, and complaint procedures must be available in regional languages.
These steps aim to make banking easier for everyone and reduce language-related difficulties that often prevent rural customers from fully using banking services.
Digital Banking to Support Regional Languages
The multilingual requirement also applies to digital platforms.
Banks are now expected to:
Offer regional-language support on mobile apps, websites, and internet banking portals.
Provide customer assistance in local languages at call centres.
This change is likely to increase digital adoption in states where English literacy is low.
Local Officers and Language Training
The Department of Financial Services (DFS) has asked Public Sector Banks (PSBs) to hire Local Bank Officers (LBOs) who are fluent in regional languages.
The Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) has supported this, recommending structured policies for recruitment and training.
Frontline staff, such as Customer Service Associates (CSAs), must now pass a Local Language Proficiency Test (LPT) before joining branches.
This ensures smoother communication at counters, an area where many complaints usually arise.
Government Backing for Inclusive Banking
Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary shared these updates in the Rajya Sabha, emphasizing the government’s focus on inclusive banking.
With these new rules, customers across India can expect clearer communication, better service, and a banking experience that respects local languages.