RBI Banned Dark Patterns: Strict orders from Reserve Bank of India to banks; Ban on ‘Dark Pattern’

• RBI has taken a big decision
• Ban on ‘Dark Pattern’
• Mobile banking will be more transparent

RBI Banned Dark Patterns: To protect the interests of millions of bank customers, RBI has taken a historic and much needed step to bring transparency in banking services. The central bank has ordered banks to remove all gimmicks from their websites and mobile apps that often mislead customers. Known as “dark patterns,” these tactics are being used to coerce consumers into buying unwanted services or charging hidden fees. This new decision by the RBI will not only make digital transactions easier but will significantly increase the trust of the customers on their hard earned money and banks.

Through the “Responsible Business Conduct Amendment Directive, 2026”, the Reserve Bank has given banks a strict deadline of July 2026 to make all their digital services transparent. According to this new directive, banks should remove all dark patterns from their mobile applications and official websites that mislead customers in any way. RBI requires banks to obtain express and written consent of customers before selling any financial product or service to avoid any potential disputes in future.

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The true purpose of dark pattern technology used on digital platforms is to influence user behavior so that they unknowingly accept expensive services. This often involves surreptitiously adding hidden fees during checkout or sending repeated misleading messages to coerce customers into purchasing additional services such as insurance or loans. The Reserve Bank is now cracking down on these tactics so that customers have a clear understanding of what they are paying for and what services they are signing up for.

According to the report, LocalCircle conducted a comprehensive survey of over 1,61,000 people across 388 districts, which revealed a significant and shocking revelation about these fraudulent practices of banking apps. The survey revealed that most people are fed up with these hidden charges and annoying notifications, as they unnecessarily complicate their daily banking processes. Based on these survey results, RBI has adopted this strict stance to protect customers, so that both money and common man’s trust in digital banking are fully protected.

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The primary objective of this move by RBI is to make mobile banking easier, fairer and more reliable, as today people are completely dependent on digital transactions for their savings. After July 2026, banks will have an obligation to avoid bundling any products and imposing additional services or products on customers without their consent. This policy will not only save customers from financial loss in future, but also usher in a new era of healthy and transparent competition in the banking sector, which is in the interest of all.