If you’ve ever opened your bank app and felt pushed to buy “extra” services, you’re not alone.
From constant pop-ups to confusing checkout screens and surprise charges at the end, many users say digital banking isn’t always as simple as it should be.
Now, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has stepped in with a strong warning for banks.
RBI Says: Make Digital Banking Clear and Honest
In its draft guidelines titled Responsible Business Conduct Amendment Directions, 2026, the RBI has ordered banks to clean up their websites and mobile apps.
The message is clear: remove all “dark patterns” by July 2026.
Dark patterns are design tricks that push or pressure customers into doing things they didn’t fully intend to do — like buying add-on services or agreeing to hidden charges.
Under the new rules:
Banks must take clear and explicit consent before offering financial products.
They cannot bundle or sell products together without your permission.
Charges must be properly disclosed — no last-minute surprises.
The RBI wants customers to know exactly what they are signing up for.
What Are Dark Patterns — And Why Are They a Problem?
Dark patterns are clever but misleading design techniques used on digital platforms.
These may include:
Hidden fees that appear at the final payment step
Confusing buttons that make you click “Yes” by mistake
Repeated notifications pushing you to activate extra services
A recent report by India Today highlighted survey findings from LocalCircles.
The survey collected responses from over 1.6 lakh people across 388 districts.
The results showed that such misleading tricks are common in online banking apps.
Many users said they only discovered extra charges at the final stage of a transaction.
Others complained about constant reminders to activate additional services.
What Happens Next?
Banks now have until July 2026 to fully remove these misleading designs and follow the new guidelines.
With more people depending on mobile banking every day, the RBI’s move aims to make digital banking simpler, fairer, and more trustworthy.
For customers, this could mean fewer hidden surprises — and more control over their money.
