If you were expecting your check deposits to be cleared within a few hours from January 3, 2026, there’s an update you need to know.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has temporarily postponed the new “superfast” check clearance system.
The RBI said banks need more time to improve their processes, so the old system will continue for now.
However, there are still some important updates to check deposit and confirmation times that every bank customer should know.
What Was the 3-Hour Plan?
The RBI had planned to introduce Phase 2 of the Check Truncation System (CTS).
Under this system:
Once a check is deposited at a bank counter, the bank would have only three hours to approve or reject it.
If the bank didn’t respond within three hours, the check would automatically be considered approved.
This would have made check clearance extremely fast.
But banks are not fully ready for this level of automation, so the RBI has postponed Phase 2 until further notice.
Phase 1 System Will Continue
Although Phase 2 is delayed, Phase 1, which began on October 4, 2025, remains active. In Phase 1:
Banks photograph checks and send the data digitally to the clearinghouse.
This system is faster than the old batch process, as checks are processed as soon as they are received.
So while it’s not three hours yet, check processing is still quicker than before.
New Check Timing Rules
The RBI has updated the window for presenting and confirming checks:
Check Presentation: 9 am to 3 pm
Confirmation/Rejection: 9 am to 7 pm
This means if you deposit a check by 3 pm, the bank has until 7 pm to confirm or reject it.
Why Phase 2 Was Delayed
Banks need more time to adjust to the 3-hour clearance system, which is a big challenge.
They must improve both software and staff performance to avoid errors.
Implementing the system too soon could increase the risk of checks being wrongly rejected due to technical glitches.
The RBI’s decision gives banks extra time to prepare, ensuring smoother and safer check processing in the future.
