RBL Bank has issued detailed instructions on Tax Deduction at Source (TDS) for its recommended final dividend of Re. 1.00 per share for FY26, establishing a strict deadline of August 14, 2026, for shareholders to submit necessary documentation. The bank’s Board of Directors approved the 10% payout on April 25, 2026, subject to shareholder ratification at the 83rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for September 2, 2026. Failure to update Permanent Account Number (PAN) details or submit exemption certificates by the record date will result in TDS being deducted at higher statutory rates, directly impacting the net dividend received by investors.

The dividend is payable on or before October 1, 2026, to members registered in the bank’s records as of the close of business on Friday, August 14, 2026. Under the Income-tax Act, 2025, dividends are taxable in the hands of shareholders. Consequently, RBL Bank will deduct tax at applicable rates unless shareholders provide valid proof for exemption or lower withholding. The bank relies on data from its Registrar and Transfer Agent, MUFG Intime India Private Limited, and depositories to determine tax liability based on residential status and shareholder category.

TDS Rates and Exemption Requirements

Shareholders must categorize themselves correctly to avoid excessive tax deduction. For resident individuals, TDS is nil if the total dividend does not exceed ₹10,000 or if a duly verified Form 121 (formerly Form 15G/15H) is submitted. Non-resident shareholders face a default TDS rate of 20% plus surcharge and cess, though they may opt for lower rates under Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAA) by submitting Form 41 and relevant residency certificates.

Compliance and Submission Process

All documents must be uploaded via the bank’s designated portal by 5:00 p.m. IST on August 14, 2026. Email submissions will not be accepted. Shareholders holding shares in physical form must ensure their KYC details, including PAN and bank mandates, are updated with MUFG Intime India Private Limited. For demat holders, details must be current with their Depository Participant. The bank will verify PAN status using the Income Tax Reporting Portal; an invalid or unlinked PAN will trigger a 20% TDS deduction.

Remote e-voting for the AGM remains open from August 28, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. IST until September 1, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. IST, facilitated by Central Depository Services (India) Limited (CDSL). Voting eligibility is determined by the cut-off date of August 26, 2026. Members participating via Video Conferencing or Other Audio Visual Means (VC/OAVM) during the live meeting on September 2 cannot vote again if they have already cast remote votes.

What the Numbers Show

The imposition of strict TDS compliance reflects broader regulatory tightening under the Income-tax Act, 2025, which shifts the burden of tax verification onto individual shareholders. With a nominal dividend of Re. 1.00 per share, the absolute tax impact may seem small, but the requirement for precise documentation—particularly for non-residents seeking DTAA benefits—highlights the operational complexity for institutional investors. The divergence between the voting cut-off (August 26) and the dividend record date (August 14) ensures that only those entitled to the payout can vote on its approval, aligning economic interest with governance rights.

RBL Bank Limited has published its Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR) for FY 2025-26, presenting a comprehensive disclosure of the bank's environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance on a standalone basis. The report covers the bank's operations across five business verticals — Corporate Banking, Commercial Banking, Branch & Business Banking, Retail Assets, and Treasury & Financial Markets Operations — and has received reasonable assurance on its core KPIs from CNK & Associates LLP.

Corporate Overview and Financial Parameters

RBL Bank, incorporated in 1943 and headquartered in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, operates with a paid-up capital of ₹6,18,11,14,040 as on 31 March 2026. The bank's CSR-relevant financial parameters for the reporting period are outlined below:

The bank has a network of 603 branches (including IBU), 1,339 business correspondent branches (of which 258 are banking outlets), and 415 ATMs spread across 28 Indian states and Union Territories. It also operates one International Financial Services Unit (IFSC) Banking Unit (IBU) at GIFT City.

Workforce and Employee Well-Being

As at the end of FY 2025-26, RBL Bank's total employee strength stood at 13,316 (including permanent and other than permanent employees), while its wholly owned subsidiary RBL FinServe Limited (RFL) reported 9,711 permanent employees. The bank's gender diversity and turnover metrics are presented below:

The bank's Board of Directors comprises 10 members, of whom 2 (20%) are female, while Key Management Personnel includes 4 members, of whom 1 (25%) is female. The permanent employee turnover rate for FY 2025-26 was 27.4% (total), compared to 33.1% in FY 2024-25 and 44.4% in FY 2023-24, reflecting a declining trend.

All 13,146 permanent employees are covered under health insurance, and 99.81% are covered under the Provident Fund scheme. The cost incurred on well-being measures as a percentage of total revenue stood at 0.24% in FY 2025-26, compared to 0.31% in FY 2024-25. Gross wages paid to female employees accounted for 17.93% of total wages in FY 2025-26, up from 17.55% in FY 2024-25.

Environmental Performance

The bank amended its methodology for estimating energy consumption and GHG emissions using the "Spend Based approach" as recommended under SEBI's Circular on Industry Standards on Reporting of BRSR Core, with retrospective restatement applied to FY 2024-25 data. Key environmental metrics are summarised below:

The bank has installed solar panels in 23 branches, generating approximately 319 MWh of solar power and avoiding GHG emissions of 227 metric tonnes of CO2. Three of its largest offices — Corporate Office, Airoli, and NOC Goregaon — are situated in certified green buildings, accounting for approximately 56% of the carpet area among all regional offices. The bank has also adopted a Coal Policy targeting zero exposure to coal-based thermal power generation by FY 2033-34 and aims to achieve carbon-neutral status from its own operations by FY 2033-34.

Governance, Human Rights, and Customer Responsibility

The bank reported nil instances of fines, penalties, or disciplinary actions related to bribery or corruption in FY 2025-26. The number of days of accounts payables stood at 30.96 in FY 2025-26, compared to 46.49 in FY 2024-25. On human rights, 75% of total employees (9,936 out of 13,316) received training on human rights issues and policies during FY 2025-26, up from 53% in FY 2024-25.

Complaints filed under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (POSH) Act totalled 8 in FY 2025-26, of which 4 were upheld, compared to 9 filed and 6 upheld in FY 2024-25. On customer grievances, 45,450 complaints were filed during FY 2025-26, with 1,286 pending resolution at year-end, compared to 79,295 filed and 3,898 pending in FY 2024-25.

CSR and Inclusive Development

The bank has fully allocated its CSR obligation of 2% of average net profit in accordance with the Companies Act, 2013, with funds for ongoing projects deposited into a dedicated Unspent Account as required. On inclusive sourcing, 12.5% of input material by value was directly sourced from MSMEs or small producers in FY 2025-26, compared to 13.0% in FY 2024-25, while 95% was sourced from within the district and neighbouring districts. The bank is affiliated with 9 national trade and industry chambers, including the Indian Banks' Association, the Confederation of Indian Industry, and the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.