Reserve Bank of India Central Board Director and Sahakar Bharati founder member Satish K. Marathe visited the Telangana State Cooperative Urban Banks Federation on Friday and interacted with the Chairman and Chief Executive Officers of Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) of Telangana at the Federation’s ‘Hall of Excellence’.
Addressing the gathering, Marathe acknowledged the concerns of the participants and assured them that the objective of the amendments to the Banking Regulation Act and the Banking Regulation (Co-operative Societies) Rules, 2025 is to bring professionalism, transparency, improved corporate governance, succession planning, and employment generation in the Urban Cooperative Banking sector. He advised UCBs to first undertake the necessary bylaw amendments, after which the impact of the regulatory changes would be assessed in a structured manner.
Marathe also elaborated on his “Vision Document for Urban Co-operative Banks 2025–2030 & Beyond,” which outlines a roadmap for transforming UCBs into modern, resilient, and community-oriented institutions. The Vision Document focuses on business growth and diversification, digital transformation, financial strength and governance, strengthening capital and financial resilience, creation of reserves for technology induction and upgradation, member and customer engagement, human resource development, and social and environmental responsibility.
He emphasized that each UCB should prepare its own vision document for a period of three to five years and gradually shift its credit disbursal approach from security-oriented lending to purpose-oriented lending.
In the changed regulatory scenario, the presence of Marathe generated keen interest among the participants, who were eager to understand the future direction of Urban Cooperative Banks. His detailed explanations and reassurances helped alleviate concerns and reinforced confidence in the long-term sustainability and growth of the sector.
Welcoming the dignitary, Vemireddy Narasimha Reddy, President of the Telangana State Cooperative Urban Banks Federation, congratulated Marathe on his elevation as Director on the NABARD Board in addition to his present position on the RBI Central Board.
He stated that this would greatly benefit Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and other cooperative institutions regulated by NABARD. He also requested Marathe to clarify the implications of the recent amendments to the Banking Regulation Act and the Banking Regulation (Co-operative Societies) Amendment Rules, 2025, on Urban Cooperative Banks.
G. Madana Gopala Swamy, Working President of the Federation, sought guidance on how UCBs should cope with the recent regulatory amendments, while Vice President Pramod Kumar Kedia raised concerns regarding various legal suits filed in courts across the country and their possible impact on the future of Urban Cooperative Banks.
On the occasion, Ramesh Kumar Bangu, Ex-Chairman, A.P. Mahesh Urban Cooperative Bank, was felicitated for leading his team to victory in the recently held A.P. Mahesh UCB elections.
The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Krishna Murthy, Chief Executive Officer of the Telangana State Cooperative Urban Banks Federation Ltd.
