Failed UPI not reversed? Locker contents stolen? Unauthorised debit? Loan recovery agent harassment? Bank ignoring your complaint for 30 days? Escalate to the RBI Banking Ombudsman. Filing is FREE on cms.rbi.org.in. The Ombudsman can award up to ₹20 lakh compensation + ₹1 lakh for mental agony.
⏱ 30-day wait is mandatory. Under Clause 10 of the RBI Integrated Ombudsman Scheme 2021, you must first complain to the bank and wait 30 days. The Ombudsman will reject premature complaints. If the bank rejects or partly rejects your complaint, you can approach the Ombudsman within 1 year from the bank's reply (or 13 months from your original complaint date if no reply at all).
Single window for banking, NBFC, prepaid-payment-instrument grievances. Track status, upload evidence, get SMS+email updates. FREE.
RBI Contact Centre. 9:30 am–5:15 pm. EN / HI / 10 regional languages. Can register complaint over phone.
Centralised Receipt and Processing Centre, RBI, 4th Floor, Sector 17, Chandigarh – 160017. Free post.
Coverage and limits. The Integrated Ombudsman covers commercial banks, regional rural banks, urban cooperative banks (Scheduled), NBFCs with asset size ≥ ₹100 crore + deposit-taking, and non-bank prepaid-payment-instrument issuers. The Ombudsman can award up to ₹20 lakh as compensation for direct loss, plus up to ₹1 lakh for mental agony. Award is binding on the bank if you accept it. If unsatisfied, appeal to RBI's Deputy Governor within 30 days. CYBER FRAUD victims — also dial 1930 IMMEDIATELY (separate from Ombudsman route). For pure consumer complaints over ₹20 lakh, the Consumer Protection Act 2019 route via e-Daakhil may yield higher awards.
