NRB Orders Banks to Set Up 24/7 Mechanism to Freeze Accounts Linked to Financial Crimes

 

Kathmandu. Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has introduced a new mechanism aimed at strengthening the prevention and investigation of financial crimes by requiring banks and financial institutions to facilitate the immediate temporary freezing of suspicious bank accounts on a 24/7 basis.

Under the new provision, banks must establish dedicated systems to respond promptly to requests from investigative and law enforcement agencies and publish a dedicated contact number for such coordination on their official websites.

The central bank has instructed banks to temporarily freeze accounts linked to suspected financial crimes as soon as they receive either verbal or written requests from authorized investigative or law enforcement officials. The measure is intended to enhance coordination between banks and enforcement agencies and prevent the movement of funds during investigations.

The provision has been incorporated into the Integrated Directive for Banks and Financial Institutions, 2025.

According to the directive, licensed institutions must make the necessary arrangements to cooperate with investigations involving financial crimes and act on oral or written requests from law enforcement agencies to freeze related bank accounts temporarily. Banks are also required to disclose these arrangements through their websites.

In addition, the directive requires banks to provide account-related information directly and as quickly as possible when requested by authorized investigating or law enforcement officers.

पछिल्लो अध्यावधिक: असार ११, २०८३ १५:५५

टिप्पणीहरू