Small bank licence: RBI asks I-T dept to verify applicants' credentials

RBI has asked the I-T department to get a 'tax angle' verification done for four dozen corporate entities seeking licence to operate small finance and payment banks in the country.

RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan had recently written to the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the apex policy making body of the Income Tax department, to expedite the matter and provide the banking regulator with inputs about individuals at the helm of these entities with businesses spread across the country and abroad, officials said.

CBDT has asked its investigation and regular assessment ranges across the country to "quickly" collect the data and submit them so that RBI can take a final view on the grant of licences to eligible parties.

"The inputs sought relate to financial and tax history of close to 50 entities, their owners and senior executives who have applied for getting RBI's licence to run small finance and payment banks," they said.

It has been instructed by RBI and CBDT, the officials said, that any adverse record or observation about financial dealings of these entities, found out either by way of an earlier action by the taxman or through regular mechanism of intelligence and data gathering, should be reported.

"In case there is no adverse finding, the I-T will send an all okay report," one of the officials said.

Those entities for which tax clearances have been sought include Intellecash MicroFinance Network Company, SKS MicroFinance, Capital Local Area Bank, Electronica Finance, Repco MicroFinance, SE Investments, RGVN (North East) Micro Finance, Ujjivan Financial Services, and Ashika Global Securities.