The Reserve Bank of India issued the Amendment Directions, 2026 revising norms for credit and debit card issuance and conduct, aligning them with the 2026 Asset Classification and Provisioning framework. The key change introduces a borrower-friendly rule that card accounts will be reported as “past due” to credit information companies and attract penal charges only after remaining overdue for more than three days. However, the calculation of days past due and applicable charges will continue from the original payment due date mentioned in the statement. Importantly, late payment and related charges must now be levied only on the outstanding amount after the due date, rather than on the total amount due. This ensures fairer charging practices and prevents excessive penalties. The amendment aims to enhance transparency, protect consumers, and standardize credit reporting practices. These changes will take effect from April 1, 2027.
Reserve Bank of India
RBI/2026-27/29
DOR.STR.REC.11/24-01-041/2026-27 | Dated: April 27, 2026
Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks — Credit Cards and Debit Cards: Issuance and Conduct) – Amendment Directions, 2026
Please refer to Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks — Credit Cards and Debit Cards: Issuance and Conduct) Directions, 2025 (hereinafter referred to as `the Directions’).
2. Consequent to the issuance of Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Asset Classification, Provisioning and Income Recognition) Directions, 2026 and in exercise of the powers conferred by the section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and all other laws enabling the Reserve Bank in this regard, the Reserve Bank being satisfied that it is necessary and expedient in the public interest so to do, hereby issues the Amendment Directions hereinafter specified.
3. The Amendment Directions shall modify the paragraph 23(5) as below:
“Card-issuers shall report a credit card account as ‘past due’ to credit information companies (CICs) or levy penal charges, viz. late payment charges and other related charges, if any, only when a credit card account remains ‘past due’ for more than three days. The number of ‘days past due’ and late payment charges shall, however, be computed from the payment due date mentioned in the credit card statement, as specified under the Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Asset Classification, Provisioning and Income Recognition) Directions, 2026 amended from time to time. Late payment charges and other related charges shall be levied, only on the outstanding amount after the due date, and not on the total amount due.”
4. The above amendments shall come into force from April 01, 2027.
(Vaibhav Chaturvedi)
Chief General Manager
