Mumbai: Mumbai witnessed chaotic scenes outside the New India Co-operative Bank as worried customers, including many senior citizens, queued up to withdraw their money after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed strict restrictions on withdrawals. The sudden directive, citing supervisory concerns, has left depositors anxious and frustrated.
Seema Waghmare, one of the affected customers, voiced her distress, saying, “We deposited money just yesterday, but no one warned us. Now, they say we’ll get our money in three months, but we have EMIs and bills to pay. How are we supposed to manage?”
The RBI’s order, effective from February 13, 2025, bars the bank from granting loans, making investments, or accepting fresh deposits without prior approval. While depositors are eligible for insurance claims up to ₹5 lakh under the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC), the restrictions have triggered widespread panic.
Though bank officials have distributed coupons for locker access, cash withdrawal limitations have led to uncertainty, with customers now grappling with financial stress. The restrictions will remain in place for six months, subject to review.
