The acronym ‘RTGS’ stands for Real Time Gross Settlement, which can be defined as the continuous (real-time) settlement of funds transfers individually on an order by order basis (without netting).
‘Real Time’ means the processing of instructions at the time they are received rather than at some later time;
‘Gross Settlement’ means the settlement of funds transfer instructions occurs individually (on an instruction by instruction basis).
RTGS system is primarily meant for large value transactions. The minimum amount to be remitted through RTGS is ` 2 lakh. There is no upper ceiling for RTGS transactions.
The RTGS service window for customer’s transactions is available to banks from 9.00 hours to 16.30 hours on week days and from 9.00 hours to 14:00 hours on Saturdays for settlement at the RBI end. However, the timings that the banks follow may vary depending on the customer timings of the bank branches.
The remitting customer has to furnish the following information to a bank for initiating a RTGS remittance:
- Amount to be remitted
- Remitting customer’s account number which is to be debited
- Name of the beneficiary bank and branch
- The IFSC Number of the receiving branch
- Name of the beneficiary customer
- Account number of the beneficiary customer
- Sender to receiver information, if any
With a view to rationalize the service charges levied by banks for offering funds transfer through RTGS system, a broad framework has been mandated as under:
a) Inward transactions – Free, no charge to be levied.
b) Outward transactions – ` 2 lakh to ` 5 lakh – not exceeding ` 30.00 per transaction;
Above ` 5 lakh – not exceeding ` 55.00 per transaction.
