RBI Keeps SBI, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank in 2025 Domestic Systemically Important Banks List

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released the 2025 list of Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs), reaffirming State Bank of India (SBI), HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank as the only three lenders classified as systemically important. All three institutions remain in the same buckets as assigned in the 2024 list.

According to the RBI, these banks must continue to maintain additional Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital requirements over and above the Capital Conservation Buffer, in line with their systemic importance scores. SBI remains in Bucket 4 with an additional CET1 requirement of 0.80%, HDFC Bank continues in Bucket 2 with a requirement of 0.40% and ICICI Bank stays in Bucket 1 with a 0.20% surcharge.

The D-SIB framework, introduced by the RBI on July 22, 2014 and revised on December 28, 2023, mandates annual disclosures of banks classified as systemically important. Banks are placed in buckets from 1 to 5 based on their Systemic Importance Scores (SIS), and higher buckets attract higher capital requirements to ensure greater resilience in times of financial stress.

For foreign banks operating in India that are designated as Global Systemically Important Banks (G-SIBs), additional CET1 surcharges must also be maintained proportionate to their India-based Risk Weighted Assets. SBI and ICICI Bank were first included as D-SIBs in 2015 and 2016 respectively, while HDFC Bank joined the list in 2017. The latest 2025 update is based on data submitted by banks as of March 31, 2025 and reflects RBI’s ongoing focus on financial stability and systemic risk management in the Indian banking sector.