Integrated Ombudsman Scheme, 2021

The Reserve Bank - Integrated Ombudsman Scheme, 2021 was launched on November 12, 2021, in virtual mode by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The key objective of this scheme is to further improve the grievance redress mechanism for resolving customer complaints against entities such as banks, NBFCs, and payment service operators regulated by the RBI. The Integrated Ombudsman Scheme shall come into force from November 12, 2021.

Integrated Ombudsman Scheme

The Reserve Bank of India integrates the following three existing Ombudsman schemes into the Reserve Bank - Integrated Ombudsman Scheme, 2021 to make the alternate dispute redress mechanism simpler and more responsive to the customers.

The Banking Ombudsman Scheme, 2006,
The Ombudsman Scheme for Non-Banking Financial Companies, 2018;
The Ombudsman Scheme for Digital Transactions, 2019

Ombudsman for the Scheme

Ombudsman is an appellate body where customers can escalate complaints if the financial institution fails to address the complaint within 30 days. Even when customers are not satisfied with the resolution offered or explanation given by the financial institution they can approach the ombudsman. The Executive Director in charge of the Consumer Education and Protection Department of RBI would be the Appellate Authority under the Scheme.

Salient Features of the Scheme

The salient features of the Integrated Ombudsman Scheme is as follows:

The central theme of the scheme is based on ‘One Nation-One Ombudsman’
To offer ease of operation to handle the customer complaint a Centralized Receipt and Processing Centre (CRPC) has been set up for centralized handling of all complaint receipts and initial processing. The Scheme has done away with the jurisdiction of each ombudsman office.
In addition to integrating the three existing schemes, the Scheme also includes under its ambit Non-Scheduled Primary Co-operative Banks with deposit size of Rs 50 crore and above.
To get the financial grievances addressed, the customers will no longer have to chase different entities regulated by RBI; they will now have a single point of reference to file complaints, submit documents, track the status of the complaints and receive feedback. It will have one portal, one email, and one address for the customers to lodge their complaints.
A multi-lingual toll-free number will provide all relevant information on grievance redress and assistance for filing complaints.
The responsibility of representing the Regulated Entity and furnishing information in respect of complaints filed by customers against the Regulated Entity would be that of the Principal Nodal Officer in the rank of a General Manager in a Public Sector Bank or equivalent.
The Regulated Entity will not have the right to appeal in cases where an Award is issued by the ombudsman against it for not furnishing satisfactory and timely information/documents.

Entities Covered under the Integrated Ombudsman Scheme

The Integrated Ombudsman Scheme covers the following regulated entities:

All Commercial Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Scheduled Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks and Non-Scheduled Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks with deposits size of Rupees 50 crore and above as on the date of the audited balance sheet of the previous financial year;
All Non-Banking Financial Companies (excluding Housing Finance Companies) which are authorized to accept deposits; or have customer interface, with an assets size of Rupees 100 crore and above as on the date of the audited balance sheet of the previous financial year;
All System Participants as defined under the Scheme.

Prescribed Time to file a complaint

One can file a complaint before the Ombudsman if the reply is not received from the regulated entity within one month after the bank concerned has received one's complaint, or the bank rejects the complaint, or if the complainant is not satisfied with the reply given by the bank