MUMBAI, Dec. 4 -- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued guidelines for how banks can offer services through digital channels, following industry feedback on the draft guidelines issued in July. Coming into force on 1 January 2026, these rules tighten approvals for banks, raise compliance and customer-protection requirements, and strengthen disclosure and grievance-redressal standards.

The new guidelines are a response to increasing complaints against banks for pushing customers to download bank mobile applications to avail internet banking services or to activate cards. These rules come at a time when the regulator has been focussing on customer experience and cracking down on banks to stop bundling of services.

"RBI's Digital Bank...