OPENING OF ACCOUNT AS PER GSPR-2018
Eligibility to open an account.-
(1) An adult who is a resident citizen of India is eligible to open an account under these rules.
Provided that an account may be opened by a guardian on behalf of a minor or person of unsound mind.
Provided further that the guardian as well as the minor or a person of unsound mind shall be the resident citizen of India.
(2) A Minor who has attained the age of ten years may open and operate an account in accordance with the provisions of a Savings Scheme.
(3) If a depositor in a single account, or any of the depositors in a joint account, or either the guardian of minor or person of unsound mind or minor depositor, as the case may be, subsequently becomes Non-resident Indian during the period the account is in operation, the account may be continued till its maturity and the benefits available to the depositor in the said account shall be available only on non-repatriation basis and the account shall not be allowed to be extended or continued beyond maturity, even if such extension or continuation is and otherwise permissible, and no interest shall be payable after the date of its maturity.
(4) If a depositor in a single account, or any of the depositors in a joint account, or either the guardian or a minor depositor or a depositor who is a person of unsound mind, as the case may be, ceases to be a citizen of India, the account shall be closed or deemed to be closed from the last day of the month preceding the month in which the depositor ceases to be a citizen of India.
5. Opening of an account.-
(1)An Account may be opened by the depositor either by visiting the Accounts Office in person or through permissible electronic modes including internet or mobile banking application of the respective Government Savings Bank in accordance with the procedure approved by the Reserve Bank of India, from time to time.
(2) An eligible individual desiring to open an account may do so by making an application in Form 1 to the Accounts Office along with the following documents namely:-
(a) proof of age of minor in case of account opened by a minor or on behalf of a minor;
(b) a recent passport size photograph; (See amendment)
(c) a certificate from Superintendent of mental hospital where a person of unsound mind is confined or treated, as the case may be, in case the account is opened on behalf of the person of unsound mind;
(d) amount of deposit, accompanied by a Pay-in-Slip; and
(e) Identity documents specified in rule 6.
(3) An illiterate or a blind or visually challenged individual desiring to open an account shall personally visit the Accounts Office for authentication of his signature or thumb impression by the Accounts Office provided he shall be accompanied by a person known to the Accounts Office and a literate person may be authorised by the blind or visually challenged depositor to operate an Account on his behalf.
(4) An illiterate depositor shall be assisted by the Authorised Officer of Accounts office for opening (filling up of forms etc.) and operating the account and thumb impression of the illiterate depositor shall be witnessed by an independent witness acceptable to the Accounts Office on each occasion of withdrawal.
(5) A blind or visually challenged or illiterate depositor may open joint account with literate depositor.
(6) The persons with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilities as defined in section 2 of Mental Retardation and multiple disabilities Act, 1999 (44 of 1999) may open and operate an account through guardian and a certificate from the Medical Superintendent or Civil surgeon or Chief Medical officer of the Central or State Government to this effect shall be submitted at the time of opening the account.
Identification of depositor(s):
Note 1: If the Aadhaar Number has not been assigned to an individual, he\she shall furnish proof of application of enrolment for Aadhaar, and if the individual does not submit the proof of application of enrolment, he/she shall furnish a certified copy of an officially valid document containing details of his/her identity and address along with a recent photograph.
(ii). The Permanent Account Number or Form 60 as defined in the Income Tax Rules,
1962:
2. Driving license
3. Voter’s ID card
4. Job card issued by NREGA duly signed by the State Government officer
5. Letter issued by the National Population Register containing details of name and
address
nature of business and financial status of the depositor.
Amendment :
1 Online accounts under SCSS, MSSC and MIS can be opened by investors
through DOP Internet banking. Only
Single Type account can be opened. Only
DOP Netbanking users can open online accounts.
Nominee already available in their Savings Account can be registered for
the above schemes. SCSS accounts can be
opened only if the depositor has attained the age of 60. Those who are below 60 years of age can open
the new accounts only at the Post office.
As per SB order No. 16/2023, when an account is opened on behalf of minor, recent passport size photograph of the guardian is to be produced.
Non-Resident Indian:
Non-resident Indians are eligible to be nominated as nominees subject to the condition that payment
to such nominee/s shall be on non- repatriation basis.
Mobile number updation is mandatory:
Mobile number updation is mandatory as per SB Order No. 17/2017 for all new accounts to be opened and also for all existing accounts.
This was reiterated in SB Order No. 1/2022. It was stated that if any transaction (Deposit/Withdrawal/Loan Disbursement/Loan Repayment/Closure of account (either premature or on maturity)) carried out in any CBS post office and if the amount is Rs. 20,000 and above, mobile number must be checked and if necessary, updated before initiating the transaction.
For the purpose, before initiating any transaction of Rs. 20,000 and above, counter PA shall invoke menu CICD and check, whether mobile number/PAN are updated in respective account or not.
If mobile number/PAN are not updated/available in account, in which transaction is to be done, mobile number and PAN should be obtained by the counter PA on the voucher (i.e., SB-103/SB-7/7A/7B/7C) from the account holder/authorized person.
In case, mobile number of a depositor is required to be changed, a separate written application may be obtained from such depositor. On verification of signature of the depositor, the mobile number shall be updated by invoking CMRC menu by the counter PA and verified by the supervisor. This application should be attached with the Account Opening Form (AOF) and KYC document of the respective account.
Non-CBS post offices shall also obtain mobile number for transaction above Rs. 20,000.
As per SB Order No. 22/2022, Finacle will throw an error whenever transactions are done if mobile number is not seeded to any CIF-ID. GDS Branch offices shall also ensure that mobile number is seeded in Finacle in respect of all their BO accounts.
As per SB order No. 17/2022, Finacle will throw an error if a single mobile number is linked to more than five CIF-IDs.
Click here for SB order No. 17/2017, SB Order No. 1/2022 and SB Order No. 22/2022
Change of name or surname of depositors:
Change of name or surname may be allowed by the account office by following the procedure laid down by Reserve Bank of India for change of name or surname in Bank Savings Account
Change of name of a depositor can be done at HO only. See SB Order No. 24/2022