Banking Ethics in Global and Indian Contexts

Globally Banking ethics rely on rules and standards that govern the conduct of a bank and its employees, and the impact of the bank’s actions on society and the environment.

Banks are running on strong foundations of following four ethical principles which help them to deal with ethical issues.

Principles of Trust: The Principles of trust is Integrity, security, availability, confidentiality, and privacy. It inspires customers, investors, regulators, and lenders to feel confident about bankers, banking products, and banking organisations.

Principle of neutrality: Not to differentiate between employees (internal customers) and customers. No bias in behaviour.

Principles of reliability: The reliability principle in banking is the idea that banks should provide accurate, timely, and reputable services to their customers. The account statement and other information provided by the bank can be easily understandable, clear, and accurate while offering services. Banks should also be able to keep their customer’s information confidential and respect their commitments.

Principles of transparency: Transparency for consumers includes proper disclosure of bank fees and the interest rate charged by credit card companies. Customers should be updated about their rights and obligations.

The above ethical principles apply to all commercial banks in Global and Indian Contexts.  The bank needs to keep both internal and external ethics consistent. Following Ethical banking encourages transparency, helps build strong communities, and establishes a set of principles and ideals that govern how and to whom finances flow. Banks that follow such a practice are also often the last chance available to many start-ups to get the funding necessary to get off the ground.

Any bank needs to screen its clients, though the most common reason is to be certain that the client is financially sound. With ethical banking, however, screening clients is additionally important so that a bank does not end up working with companies and individuals who do not maintain ethical practices.

The Reserve Bank of India has been providing a strong foundation for ethical considerations in the banking sector. Ethical banking is a broad concept that considers how banking practices impact the environment and society. Ethical banks aim to make a profit without compromising their principles or causing harm.

The RBI released a Charter of Customer Rights that enshrines five basic rights for bank customers, including the right to fair treatment, transparency, and privacy.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) promotes ethical banking practices in India through several measures and issues guidelines to banks and financial institutions that mandate ethical practices, such as transparency, accountability, and compliance with laws.

The Central Bank conducts regular audits and inspections to ensure compliance with ethical standards. It has the authority to impose penalties and sanctions on banks that engage in unethical practices, thus maintaining the financial system’s integrity.

The Banking regulator RBI has the power to intervene in a bank’s management if it is not being managed in the interests of its depositors or the banking company.