On-tap authorisation: RBI issues guidelines for BBPOU, White Label ATMs

 In order to benefit from diversification of risk as also to encourage innovation and competition, as part of its on-tap authorisation criteria for non-bank payment system operators (PSOs), the Reserve Bank of India, on Tuesday the 15th Oct 2019, issued instructions on ‘on tap’ authorisation to entities desirous to function / operate / provide platforms for Bharat Bill Payment Operating Unit (BBPOU); Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS); and White Label ATMs (WLAs).

The detailed criteria set by RBI are as under:

On-tap Authorisation of Payment Systems - Authorisation Criteria for non-bank PSOs

Sr No.	Payment System	Eligibility Criteria*
		Financials	Specific to the PS	Common to all
1.	BBPOUs	Rs.100 cr Net worth (to be maintained at all times)	Applicant must have domain experience in the field of bill collection for a minimum period of one year.	• Company registered under the Companies Act, 2013. • Entities with Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) / Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) / Foreign Institutional Investment (FII) shall meet the capital requirements as applicable under the extant Consolidated FDI policy guidelines. • The Memorandum of Association (MOA) must cover the specific activity. • Fit and Proper criteria will be assessed by RBI1@. • The overall financial strength of the promoters / entity; sound technological basis to support its operations; management; governance etc. shall be other important criteria.
2.	TReDS	• Minimum paid up equity capital – Rs. 25 cr • Non-promoters, to have shareholding up to 10 per cent of equity capital
3.	WLA Operators (WLAOs)	Rs.100 cr Net worth (to be maintained at all times)	• ATMs to be deployed in the following ratio: 1:2:3 for Metro & Urban : Semi-Urban : Rural Regions. • Among the various regions, the ratio will be in favour of rural regions. If a WLAO deploys adequate ATMs in a rural region, it need not deploy ATMs in metro, urban or semi-urban regions to meet the ratio requirements. If a WLAO deploys ATMs in a semi-urban region, it shall deploy adequate ATMs in a rural region as per the ratio and may not deploy any ATM in a metro or urban regions.

. The KYC requirements for retail payment systems shall be as per the Master Directions on Know Your Customer (KYC) issued by the Department of Banking Regulation (DBR), Reserve Bank of India.

. The payment system operators should ensure interoperability among different retail payment systems.

. The authorisation would be given based on (a) merits of the proposal, and (b) Reserve Bank’s assessment of potential for additional entities in that segment.

. The applications for authorisation shall be submitted to:

The Chief General Manager
Department of Payment and Settlement Systems, Central Office
14th Floor, Central Office Building
Reserve Bank of India
Shaheed Bhagat Singh Marg, Fort
Mumbai 400 001
Email: cgmdpssco@rbi.org.in
Ph.: 022 2264 4995

@ The Entity / Promoters / Promoter Groups, shall conform to the Reserve Bank’s ‘fit and proper’ criteria including but not limited to: 1. The entity shall have a past record of sound credentials and integrity. 2. Director of a Promoter Company / Group Company shall have a record of financial integrity; good reputation and character; honesty; etc. 3. Such person shall not have incurred any of the following disqualifications – Convicted by a court for any offence involving moral turpitude or any economic offence or any offence under the laws administered by the RBI; Declared insolvent and not discharged; An order, restraining, prohibiting or debarring the person from accessing / dealing in any financial system, passed by any regulatory authority, and the period specified in the order has not elapsed; Found to be of unsound mind by a court of competent jurisdiction and the finding is in force; and Is financially not sound. 4. RBI’s decision on whether a person is a fit and proper person shall be final.

Explained:

• TReDS is an online platform for facilitating the financing of trade receivables of MSMEs from corporate buyers through multiple financiers. 
• Under BBPS the BBPOUs will function as entities facilitating collection of repetitive payments for everyday utility services, such as, electricity, water, gas, telephone and Direct-to-Home (DTH).
• Non-bank entities that intend setting up, owning and operating ATMs, would be christened "White Label ATM Operators" (WLAO) and such ATMs would be called "White Label ATMs" (WLAs).

Source: rbi.org.in