The Reserve Bank of India issued amendments to its 2025 directions on branch authorisation for non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) to provide more operational flexibility for branch expansion while maintaining compliance expectations. The updated framework generally permits NBFCs to open branches in India without prior RBI approval unless specifically restricted, and revises the conditions under which deposit-taking NBFCs can expand branches or appoint agents. The amendments take effect immediately. The amended applicability provisions allocate different parts of the directions across NBFC categories, including NBFC-D, NBFC-ICC, NBFC-Factor, NBFC-MFI, NBFC-IFC, IDF-NBFC and housing finance companies (HFCs), with separate treatment for deposit-taking NBFCs and deposit-taking HFCs, and for core investment companies (CICs). For deposit-taking NBFCs that are otherwise entitled to accept public deposits under the RBI’s 2025 public deposit directions, expansion is now tiered: firms with net owned funds up to ₹50 crore or a credit rating below AA may open branches or appoint agents only within the state of their registered office, while firms with net owned funds above ₹50 crore and a credit rating of AA or above may do so anywhere in India. The amendments also rename the relevant section heading for branch opening in India, delete subsections A2 and A3 (including paragraphs 7 to 9), adjust references to CICs and HFCs in paragraphs 10 and 13, and replace a provision on advising a CIC to wind up an establishment with a mechanism under which related approvals will be reviewed or recalled.
Reserve Bank of India 2026-04-15
Reserve Bank of India widens NBFC branch opening flexibility and links deposit-taker expansion to ₹50 crore net owned funds and AA credit rating
The Reserve Bank of India has amended its 2025 branch authorisation directions for non-banking financial companies to provide greater operational flexibility for branch expansion while maintaining compliance expectations. Deposit-taking NBFCs entitled to accept public deposits may now expand on a tiered basis: entities below ₹50 crore in net owned funds or rated below AA are restricted to their home state, while those above ₹50 crore and rated AA or higher may expand nationwide. The amendments also refine applicability across NBFC categories, adjust provisions for core investment companies and housing finance companies, and streamline section headings and cross-references.