Banks across India are set to shift their monthly compliance process to the RBI’s Centralised Information Management System beginning August 2025

How often does a monthly return filing become headline news? India’s banks now have. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a circular dated 5 September 2025 under the Department of Payment and Settlement Systems that requires all banks to shift their internet and mobile banking compliance filing to the RBI's new CIMS portal for banking returns.

The change is effective for the month of August 2025, with the first deadline fixed as 7 September 2025.

New RBI Order: Banks Filing Returns via RBI CIMS Portal August Onwards

The circular, officially numbered RBI/2025-26/77, covers all banking categories. These include Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs), Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs), State Cooperative Banks (StCBs), District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs), Payment Banks, and Small Finance Banks.

Two specific returns are now in focus:

Internet Banking Return (R065)
Mobile Banking Return (R102)

Both are monthly filings. The RBI directs banks to use the CIMS portal from August 2025 onwards. Non-compliance will be treated as a violation of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, and may attract penal action.

The following table explains the scope of the new filing:

Bank Type	Returns to File	Effective Month	Deadline Each Month
Scheduled Commercial Banks	R065, R102	August 2025	7th of next month
Cooperative Banks	R065, R102	August 2025	7th of next month
Payment & Small Finance	R065, R102	August 2025	7th of next month

This uniform approach ensures that every bank, irrespective of size or nature, follows the same reporting system. It brings digital banking compliance into the same structured window already used for other returns.

CIMS Portal for Mobile and Internet Banking Returns

The Centralised Information Management System (CIMS) is not new. RBI introduced it in stages to centralise the reporting of returns. Before 2025, the portal already handled filings related to priority sector lending and MSME stress monitoring. The current directive extends its scope to internet and mobile banking returns.

A simple definition can explain it best. CIMS is RBI’s single digital platform that collects and manages supervisory data across Indian banks. It removes the need for multiple portals or offline submission of returns. Every return is stored, monitored and audited within the same system.

The order has also made it clear that the RBI has already created Admin User accounts for each bank. These Admin Users must now assign logins to officers responsible for uploading the monthly returns. The platform can be accessed at https://cims.rbi.org.in/#/login.

The following table outlines the step-by-step workflow under this filing structure:

Stage in Filing	Who Handles It	Task Description	Timeline
Admin User Created by RBI	RBI	Account pre-created	Before August 2025
Access Setup in Each Bank	Bank Admin User	Allocate logins to staff	August 2025
Monthly Upload of Returns	Reporting Staff	Submit R065 and R102	7th of next month

This table shows how the process will run without leaving gaps in responsibility. Each bank has a clear chain of control, and deadlines remain fixed.

Linking the Directive to Earlier RBI Moves

The RBI’s decision is not an isolated one. It forms part of its larger strategy to centralise supervision. For example, in 2023, the RBI brought MSME stress monitoring returns into CIMS.

In 2020, priority sector lending returns were added to the same system. Both moves faced initial resistance from banks. Yet, over time, the system became the norm.

In April 2024, the RBI even released an updated list of returns already covered under CIMS. A full list can be viewed here: RBI list of returns. That list signalled that more returns were to be moved in, step by step.

Most recently, under the Digital Lending Directions 2025, the RBI mandated that from May 13, 2025, all regulated entities with digital lending apps must report them through the CIMS portal, with a hard submission deadline of June 15, 2025, reinforcing the trend toward centralised data oversight.

The table below shows how the scope of CIMS has expanded in the last five years:

Year	Returns Brought Under CIMS	Coverage Sector	Frequency
2020	Priority Sector Lending	Scheduled Banks	Quarterly
2023	MSME Stress Monitoring	All Banks	Monthly
2025	Internet & Mobile Banking	All Banks	Monthly

This table indicates how internet and mobile banking returns are now part of a longer centralisation journey.

Past Bank Reactions and RBI’s Approach

History shows that banks often raise objections when filing methods are changed. In 2020, several cooperative banks said they lacked staff training when priority sector data was moved into CIMS. RBI did not extend deadlines. In 2023, when MSME stress returns were added, commercial banks asked for more time. The regulator again refused to relax rules.

This time, the RBI has adjusted its strategy. By creating Admin IDs in advance and offering one unified login, the regulator has tried to reduce operational hurdles. Still, the tone of the circular shows that the filing date of the 7th of every month will not be shifted. The government has backed this strict approach by citing provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act.

The table below summarises how past situations unfolded compared to the present order:

Year	New Filing Introduced	Banks’ Reaction	RBI Action
2020	Priority Sector in CIMS	Concern over training	No extension given
2023	MSME Stress in CIMS	Requests for more time	Strict enforcement
2025	Internet & Mobile in CIMS	Mild caution, less protest	Admin IDs pre-created

This comparison shows that while the RBI is firm in enforcement, it has also refined its preparation to cut down complaints.

Conclusion

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has started a new CIMS portal for banking returns. From August, all banks must file their internet and mobile banking reports only through this portal. The RBI has made it clear that there will be no delay or exception.

Two key returns, R065 and R102, have also been added. This shows that RBI is giving more focus to digital banking oversight.

The order is firm. Filing through the CIMS portal is not a choice, it is a legal rule. Past experience shows that RBI does not give extra time once deadlines are fixed.

With this step, every return related to internet and mobile banking will now be stored in one place. This creates a single chain of compliance for all banks.

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