Savings bank account :

– The Savings Bank Rules must be made available to account holders while opening the accounts.

– Photographs of all depositors/account holders whether resident or non-resident should be obtained in respect of all types of deposit accounts including fixed, recurring, cumulative, etc. except:-

(i) Banks, Local Authorities and Govt. Departments (excl. public sector undertakings or quasi Government bodies);

(ii) Accounts of Staff members (single/joint)

– Banks need not insist for the presence of account holder for making cash withdrawal of ‘self’ or bearer cheques unless circumstance so warrants.

– Photographs cannot be a substitute for specimen signatures.

– Only one set of photographs need be obtained and separate photographs need not be obtained for each category of deposit.

– Photographs of the ‘ Pardanishin’ women need to be obtained

– For additional accounts, fresh photographs need not be insisted upon.

– While opening the accounts, the account holders should be informed in transparent manner the requirement of minimum balance and other charges, etc. Revision in charges also needs to be advised from to time.

– Banks may purchase cheques, drafts, etc. deposited in the account for clearing in case of suspension of clearing operations temporally or apprehension of prolonging the suspension. This facility is extended to customers upon examining the credit worthiness, integrity, past dealing, occupation, etc. so as to guard themselves from the possibilities of such instrument being dishonored subsequently.

– Savings Bank Pass Books must be provided invariably to all customers. In case of account statement, the same should be mailed to the customers regularly. These facilities should be provided at Bank’s cost. Updating the pass book periodically should also be arranged by the banks.

– Banks may avoid the usage of inscrutable entries in pass books/statement of account and ensure that brief, intelligible particulars are invariably entered in pass books / statement of account with a view to avoiding inconvenience to depositors.

– Banks are required to ensure that full address / telephone number of the branch is invariably mentioned in the Pass Books / Statement of Accounts issued to account holders.

– All cheque forms should be printed in Hindi and English irrespective of the language the customer uses including regional language.

– Cheques bearing date in Hindi as per the National Calendar (Saka Samvat) can be accepted by banks for payment, if otherwise in order. Banks can, however, ascertain the Gregorian calendar date corresponding to the National Saka calendar in order to avoid payment of stale cheques.

– Banks are required to make available the Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) code and Indian Financial System Code (IFSC), besides cheque leaf, in all passbook/ statement of account holders