Chapter 6
Provisions relating to Operation of Financial Transactions
47. Financial transactions which licensed institutions may carry on:
(1)Subject to this Act and the memorandum of association and articles of association, a Class “A” licensed institution may carry on the following financial transactions:
(a) Accepting deposits with or without interest, and refund such deposits;
(b) Supplying credit as prescribed by the Rastra Bank;
(c) Dealing in foreign exchange, subject to the laws in force;
(d) Supplying credit for hire-purchase, hypothecation, leasing, housing and service business;
(e) Engaging in merchant banking business, subject to the directives of the Rastra Bank;
(f) Making arrangements for jointly supplying credits on the basis of co-financing in collaboration with other licensed institutions in accordance with the mutual agreement entered into for the division of the collateral pari passu;
(g) Issuing guarantees on behalf of its customers, having such customers execute necessary bonds in consideration thereof, obtaining security, and acquire their movable or immovable assets as collateral or on mortgage, or the assets of third persons as collateral;
(h) Supplying credit against the guarantee provided by any native or foreign bank or financial institution;
(i) Issuing, accepting, paying, discounting or purchasing and selling letters of credit, bills of exchange, promissory notes, cheques, travelers cheques, drafts or other financial instruments;
(j) Accepting deposits, making payments and transfer funds through telephones, telex, fax, computers or magnetic tapes or similar other electronic means or equipment, subject to the directives issued by the Rastra Bank;
(k) Issuing and accepting credit cards, debit cards, charge cards and other financial instruments, as well, and appointing agents to discharge functions relating thereto, subject to the directives issued by the Rastra Bank;
(l) Accepting, making payments and supplying credit through automated teller machines and cash dispensing machines;
(m) Providing overdraft to persons whom it trusts;
(n) Supplying a fresh credit in lump sum or by installment against the security of the same movable or immovable assets which have already been furnished with it or with any other licensed institution as security, to the extent covered by the total value of such security;
(o) Acting as an agent of the Rastra Bank on the conditions prescribed by the Rastra Bank, and carrying on governmental and other transactions on behalf of the Government of Nepal;
(p) Remitting or transmitting funds to different places within or outside the State of Nepal through bills of exchange, cheques or other financial instruments, purchasing and selling gold and silver bullion, shares, debentures, bonds, etc., and recovering dividends accruing on shares and interest on promissory notes, debentures, bonds, etc.;
(q) Acting as a commission agent of its customers, taking custody of and arranging for the sale or purchase of shares, debentures or securities, collecting interest,
dividends etc. accruing from shares, debentures or securities, remitting or transmitting such interests or dividends to places within or outside the State of Nepal;
(r) Purchasing, selling or accepting bonds issued by the Government of Nepal or the Rastra Bank;
(s) Arranging for safe deposit vaults;
(t) Carrying on off-balance sheet transactions on such conditions as may be prescribed by the Rastra Bank;
(u) Supplying credits not exceeding the amount prescribed by the Rastra Bank, against individual or collective guarantee, for the economic upliftment of the destitute class, low-income families, victims of natural calamities and inhabitants in any area of the country;
(v) Exchanging with the Rastra Bank or any other licensed institutions particulars of, information or notices on debtors or customers who have obtained credits from it or other licensed institutions;
(w) Providing guarantee for the supply of credit to its customers by any other licensed institution;
(x) Mobilizing capital through shares, debentures, bonds, loan-bonds, saving-bonds or other financial instruments within the limit prescribed by the Rastra Bank;
(y) Obtaining refinance credit from the Rastra Bank as per necessity, or obtaining or supplying credits to or from other licensed institutions;
(z) Doing, or causing to be done, study, research and survey work relating to the establishment, operation and evaluation of projects, and providing training, consultancy and other information;
(aa) Supplying funds received from the Government of Nepal or other native or foreign agencies as credits for the promotion of projects, or managing such credits;
(bb) Prescribing conditions, as required, in order to protect its interests while supplying credits to any persons or institutions or doing any transaction with them;
(cc) Obtaining credits by pledging its movable or immovable assets as collateral;
(dd) Writing off credits, subject to the bye-laws framed by the Board;
(ee) Properly managing or selling its assets;
(ff) Performing such other functions as may be prescribed by the Rastra Bank.
(2) Subject to this Act and the memorandum of association and articles of association, a Class “B” licensed institution may carry on the following financial transactions:
(a) Subject to the limit prescribed by the Rastra Bank, accepting deposits with or without interest, and refund such deposits;
(b) Supplying credit, other than hypothecation credit, as prescribed;
(c) Dealing in foreign exchange, subject to the laws in force and the directives given by the Rastra Bank;
(d) Supplying credit for hire-purchase, leasing, housing and service business;
(e) Engaging in merchant banking business, subject to the directives given by the Rastra Bank;
(f) Making arrangements for jointly supplying credits on the basis of co-financing in collaboration with other licensed institutions in accordance with the mutual agreement entered into for the division of the collateral pari passu;
(g) Supplying credits against the guarantee of any native bank or financial institution;
(h) Issuing guarantees on behalf of its customers, having such customers execute necessary bonds in consideration thereof, obtaining security, and acquiring their movable or immovable assets as collateral or on mortgage, or the assets of third persons as collateral;
(i) Issuing, accepting, paying, discounting or purchasing and selling bills of exchange, promissory notes, cheques, travelers cheques, drafts or hundies;
(j) Accepting deposits, making payments and supplying credit through automated teller machines and cash dispensing machines;
(k) Providing overdraft to persons whom it trusts;
(l) Obtaining credit against the security of its movable and immovable property;
(m) Supplying a fresh credit in lump sum or by installment against the security of the same movable or immovable property which has already been furnished with, it to the extent covered by the total value of such security or supplying a fresh credit in lump sum or by installment against the security of the same movable or immovable property which has already been furnished with any other licensed institution as security, to the extent covered by the total value of such security;
(n) To issue and accept letters of credit, subject to the conditions prescribed by the Rastra Bank;
(o) Transmitting funds within the State of Nepal through bills of exchange, cheques or other financial instruments, purchasing and selling shares, debentures, bonds, etc., and recovering dividends accruing on shares and interest on promissory notes, debentures, bonds, etc.;
(p) Acting as a commission agent of its customers, taking custody of and arranging for the sale or purchase of shares, debentures or securities, collecting interests,
dividends, profits etc. accruing from shares, debentures or securities;
(q) Purchasing, selling or accepting bonds issued by the Government of Nepal or the Rastra Bank;
(r) Arranging for safe deposit vaults;
(s) Carrying on off-balance sheet transactions on such conditions as may be prescribed by the Rastra Bank;
(t) Supplying credits not exceeding the amount prescribed by the Rastra Bank, against individual or collective guarantee, for the economic upliftment of the destitute
class, low-income families, victims of natural calamities and inhabitants in any area of the country;
(u) Exchanging with the Rastra Bank or any other licensed institutions particulars of, information or notices on debtors or customers who have obtained credits from it or other licensed institutions;
(v) Providing guarantee for the supply of credit to its customers by any other licensed institution;
(w) Mobilizing capital through shares, debentures, bonds, loan-bonds, saving-bonds or other financial instruments within the limit prescribed by the Rastra Bank;
(x) Obtaining refinance credit from the Rastra Bank as per necessity, or obtaining or supplying credits to or from other licensed institutions;
(y) Supplying funds received from the Government of Nepal or other native or foreign agencies as credits for the promotion of projects, or managing such credits;
(z) Doing, or causing to be done, study, research and survey work relating to the establishment, operation and evaluation of projects, and providing training, consultancy and other information;
(aa) Writing off credits, subject to the bye-laws framed by the Board;
(bb) Prescribing conditions, as required, in order to protect its interests while supplying credits to any persons or institutions or doing any transaction with them;
(cc) Supplying installment or hire-purchase credit to any person, firm, company or institution for motor vehicles, machinery, tools, equipment, durable household goods or similar other movable property;
(dd) Operating projects such as purchase of lands and construction of buildings for land development and residential purposes, and selling and managing, or cause to be sold and managed, such lands and buildings;
(ee) Performing such other functions as may be prescribed by the Rastra Bank.
(3) Subject to this Act and the memorandum of association and articles of association, a Class “C” licensed institution may carry on the following financial transactions:
(a) Subject to the limit prescribed by the Rastra Bank, accepting deposits with or without interest, and refund such deposits;
(b) Supplying credit, other than hypothecation credit, as prescribed;
(c) Supplying credit for hire-purchase, leasing, housing and service business;
(d) Carrying on merchant banking business;
(e) Writing off credit, subject to the bye-laws made by the Board;
(f) Supplying credits jointly, on the basis of co-financing in collaboration with other licensed institutions in accordance with the mutual agreement entered into for the division of the collateral pari passu;
(g) Supplying credits against the guarantee of any native bank or financial institution;
(h) Obtaining credit against the security of its movable and immovable assets;
(i) Supplying a fresh credit in lump sum or by installment against the security of the same movable or immovable property which has already been furnished with, it to the extent covered by the total value of such security or supplying a fresh credit in lump sum or by installment against the security of the same movable or immovable property which has already been furnished with any other licensed institution as security, to the extent covered by the total value of such security;
(j) Making proper arrangements of its assets, sell or rent the same;
(k) Issuing, accepting, paying, discounting or purchasing and selling bills of exchange, promissory notes, cheques, travelers cheques, drafts or other financial instruments;
(l) Purchasing and selling the Indian rupees;
(m) Supplying credits not exceeding the amount prescribed by the Rastra Bank, against individual or collective guarantee, for the economic upliftment of the destitute class, low-income families, victims of natural calamities and inhabitants in any area of the country;
(n) Exchanging with the Rastra Bank or any other licensed institutions particulars of, information or notices on debtors or customers who have obtained credit or any kind of facility from it and other licensed institutions;
(o) Supplying installment or hire-purchase credit to any person, firm, company or institution for motor vehicles, machinery, tools, equipment, durable household goods or similar other movable property;
(p) Supplying credit to any person, firm, company or institution for purchasing a residential building or warehouse or purchasing land for constructing such
residential building or warehouse;
(q) Supplying credit (leasing finance) to any person, firm, company or institution for hiring a motor vehicle, machine, tools, equipment, durable household good or
similar movable property, or renting such movable property;
(r) Prescribing conditions, as required, in order to protect its interests while supplying credits to any persons or institutions or doing any transaction with them;
(s) Issuing guarantees on behalf of its customers, having such customers execute necessary bonds in consideration thereof, obtaining security, and acquiring their movable or immovable properties as collateral or on mortgage, or the assets of third persons as collateral;
(t) Acting as a commission agent of its customers, taking custody of, and arranging for the sale or purchase of, shares, debentures or securities, and collecting interests, dividends, profits, etc. accruing from shares, debentures or securities;
(u) Operating projects such as purchase of lands and construction of buildings for land development and residential purposes, and selling and managing, or causing
to be sold and managed, such lands and buildings;
(v) Performing such other functions as may be prescribed by the Rastra Bank.
(4) Subject to the directives given by the Rastra Bank, a Class
“D” licensed institution may carry on the following transactions:
(a) Supplying credit as prescribed;
(b) Supplying micro-credit, with or without any movable or immovable property as the collateral or security, for operating any micro-enterprise to any group or members thereof who have regularly saved for the period prescribed by the Rastra Bank and maintained the prescribed saving;
(c) Obtaining loans or grants from any licensed institution or native or foreign organization, and use such loans or grants for the supply of micro-credit or for making the same effective; Provided that approval of the Rastra Bank shall be obtained prior to obtaining loans or grants from any foreign organization.
(d) Prior to supplying micro-credits, evaluating the schemes for which micro-credits have been requested and determining whether they are feasible;
(e) Engaging in micro-enterprises of such type as may improve the economic condition of low-income persons;
(f) Holding symposia on micro-enterprises, providing assistance and training in the formulation of schemes, providing technical know-how and mobilizing technical
assistance, as required;
(g) Providing necessary services to a group in respect of the mobilization of micro-credit;
(h) Taking necessary action towards the timely realization of micro-credits;
(i) Monitoring whether micro-credits have been properly utilized, and, if they are found not to have been properly utilized, issuing necessary directives;
(j) Subject to the limit prescribed by the Rastra Bank, accepting deposits with or without interest, and refund such deposits;
(k) Obtaining credits by pledging its movable and immovable assets as collateral, and properly managing the assets;
(l) Writing off credits, subject to the bye-laws framed by the Board;
(m) Exchanging with the Rastra Bank or any other licensed institutions particulars of, information or notices on debtors or customers who have obtained credit or any kind of facility from it and other licensed institutions;
(n) Performing such other functions as may be prescribed by the Rastra Bank.
48. Activities prohibited for being carried out by licensed institutions :
(1) No licensed institution shall carry out, or cause to be carried out, the following activities:
(a) Purchasing or selling goods for commercial purpose, or purchasing any immovable property except when it is required for its own use;
Provided that this Clause shall not be deemed to prevent the licensed institutions of Classes “B” and “D” from purchasing, selling, distributing and managing lands and buildings in connection with carrying on their business transactions subject to Section 47.
(b) Advancing credit against the security of its own shares;
(c) Supplying credit or facility to any promoters, directors, persons who have subscribed one per cent or more of its shares, chief executive or any family member of such persons or to any firms, companies or institutions which are entitled to nominate or appoint directors;
(d) Supplying any type of credit or facility to any promoters, directors, persons who have subscribed one per cent or more of its shares, chief executive or any family member of such persons or managing agent or any firms, companies or institutions which are entitled to nominate or appoint directors or any firms, companies or
institutions in which the institution has a financial interest;
(e) Supplying credit or facility in an amount exceeding such percentage of its capital fund as may be prescribed by the Rastra Bank to a single customer, company and companies or partnership firms of a single group; Explanation: The expression “companies or partnership firms of a single group” means a group of such companies or partnership firms as may be prescribed by the Rastra Bank from time to time.
(f) Supplying any type of credit to any person, firm, company or institution against the guarantee given by the promoters, directors or chief executive;
(g) Making investment in the securities of those licensed institutions which have obtained permission from the Rastra Bank to carry on the financial transactions of
Classes “A”, “B” and “C”;
(h) Making investment of an amount exceeding the limit prescribed by the Rastra Bank in the share capital of any other institution;
(i) Indulging with other licensed institutions to mutually create any type of monopoly or any other type of controlled practice in the financial transactions;
(j) Doing any kind of act which is capable of creating an artificial obstruction in the competitive environment of the financial sector, with the intention of deriving undue advantage;
(k) Doing such other acts prohibited from being done by a licensed institution as may be prescribed by the Rastra Bank.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in Clause s (c) and
(d) of Sub-section (1) or elsewhere in this Act, nothing shall be deemed to bar the supplying of credit against loan-bonds or fixed deposit receipts issued by the Government of Nepal or the Rastra Bank or the providing of credit facility or advance under the provisions made the employee facilities to any promoter, director, chief executive or shareholder holding more than one percent of its shares in cases if such chief executive or shareholder is holding any post of such licensed
institution.
(3) No licensed institution shall, for the purpose of saving any person who makes deposits in an account of the funds earned by that in an illegal manner from legal action, provide any kind of assistance to such person to hide, convert, pay or transfer such funds or to hide or lie about the origin or source thereof or to do any thing for that purpose. If any licensed institution receives information about the commission of such act or suspects that any such act has been done, it shall forthwith provide particulars thereof to the Rastra Bank or to any other concerned body responsible for controlling deflection of currency.