If you often deposit cheques in the bank, here’s some relief. Until now, cheque clearance used to take 2–3 days, but this delay will soon end.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced a major change—starting October 2025, cheque clearance will happen in real-time. This means the money will reach your account within just a few hours.
How the New System Works
RBI has named this system Continuous Clearing and Settlement on Realization.
Once you deposit a cheque, it will be scanned instantly and sent to the clearing house.
The cheque will be processed in real-time.
The opposite bank must verify the payment immediately.
Implementation Timeline
Phase 1 – From October 4, 2025
Cheques deposited between 10 am to 4 pm will be processed the same day.
Banks must inform customers about payment status by 7 pm.
If the bank does not respond, the cheque will be considered accepted automatically and settled that same day.
Phase 2 – From January 3, 2026
Clearance will become even faster.
Cheques must be cleared within 3 hours of deposit.
Once cleared, the money will reach the customer’s account within 1 hour.
Benefits for Customers and Banks
For Customers:
No more waiting for days to access funds.
Traders and individuals who rely on daily cash flow will get quick relief.
For Banks:
Real-time clearance will reduce settlement risks.
The overall banking system will become more efficient and trustworthy.
