RBI’s New Cheque-Clearing Rule: Clearing Cheques Within Hours. How Will This Affect Your Personal Loan Disbursal

RBI’s new real-time cheque clearing system — making personal loan disbursal faster and more reliable than ever.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently announced that from October 4, 2025, they will move from the traditional batch-based cheque clearing to a continuous, near real-time clearing system. Under the new regime, cheques presented between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM will be scanned and forwarded instantly. Hourly inter-bank settlements will replace the old 1–2 business day delays.

In the first phase (Oct 4, 2025 to Jan 2, 2026), drawee banks must confirm cheques by 7:00 PM. If they don’t respond, the system will auto-clear them. From January 3, 2026, the confirmation window shrinks to just three hours.

This is a major leap in banking efficiency. Customers and businesses will no longer wait long for funds to reflect — they’ll often see them within the same day.

Why This Matters for Loan Disbursals

• Faster Funds Verification

  Banks and NBFCs often require a cheque deposit or bank statement as part of loan underwriting. With faster clearing, they can confirm real balances faster, speeding up sanction decisions.

• Reduced Settlement Risk

  Under the old system, cheques might bounce or get delayed, causing uncertainty in funds flow. With near real-time clearance, the risk of surprise rejections or delayed funds reduces, which helps lenders trust in the cash flow more securely.

• Quicker Disbursal Cycles

  If the underwriting team can verify funds and accounts more reliably, the time from loan approval to disbursal shrinks. Borrowers who await their loan proceeds to act (e.g., for education, health, or business) benefit directly.

• Improved Liquidity and Cash Flow

  For lenders, smoother settlements across accounts mean better liquidity management. That in turn allows them to disburse more loans without liquidity constraints.

How to Use This Change Wisely (as a Borrower)

• Provide valid bank statements or checks early in the application process to leverage fast clearance.

• Choose secure banks with good systems — in the initial rollout, some banks may experience teething issues.

• Monitor cheque deposit timing — depositing within the 10 AM–4 PM window ensures faster processing.

• Maintain clear details (account, payee name, date) to avoid rejections under “Positive Pay” requirements.

Final Thoughts

RBI’s move is a change that accelerates financial flows across India. For the world of loans, especially personal loans, it reduces friction, speeds up verification, and helps borrowers receive funds faster.

At One Day Finance, we stay aligned with such regulatory shifts so we can pass on speed and reliability to you. If you’re in need of a loan — whether for education, emergencies, or consolidation — we aim to deliver it faster, safer, and with full transparency.