Standardization and Enhancement of Security Features in Cheque Forms/Migrating to CTS 2010 standards

a. All cheques issued by banks (including DDs / POs issued by banks) with effect from the date of this circular shall necessarily conform to CTS-2010 standard.

b. Banks shall not charge their savings bank account customers for issuance of CTS-2010 standard cheques when they are issued for the first time. However, banks may continue to follow their existing policy regarding cheque book issuance for additional issuance of
cheques, in adherence to their accepted Fair Practices Code.

c. All residual non-CTS-2010 cheques with customers will continue to be valid and accepted in all
clearing houses [including the Cheque Truncation System (CTS) centers] for another four months up to July 31, 2013, subject to a review in June 2013.

d. Cheque issuing banks shall make all efforts to withdraw the non-CTS-2010 Standard cheques in circulation before the extended timeline of July 31, 2013 by creating awareness among customers through SMS alerts, letters, display boards in branches/ATMs, log-on message in internet banking, notification on the web-site etc.

e. A progress report in this regard to be submitted to this department in the format prescribed in the annex, enabling monitoring of the progress made by banks in respect of migration to CTS-2010 standard cheques.

f. In addition, the bank-wise volume of inward clearing instruments processed in the Cheque Processing Centers will be monitored with respect to the CTS-2010 / non-CTS-2010 standard cheques presented on them.

g. No fresh Post Dated Cheques (PDC)/Equated Monthly Installment (EMI) cheques (either in old
format or new CTS-2010 format) shall be accepted by lending banks in locations where the facility of ECS/RECS (Debit) is available. Lending banks shall make all efforts to convert existing PDCs in such locations into ECS/RECS (Debit) by obtaining fresh mandates from the borrowers.