The Reserve Bank of India has scaled down the requirements of KYC for banks. Now customers need to submit only one documentary proof of address – either current or permanent – while opening a bank account or while undergoing periodic updation. In a notification, the central bank said “In case the address mentioned as per ‘proof of address’ undergoes a change, fresh proof of address may be submitted to the branch within six months. The RBI said it had been receiving representations/references from various quarters, especially migrant workers and transferred employees, regarding problems faced in submitting a proof of current/permanent address while opening a bank account. “In case the proof of address furnished by the customer is not the local address or address where the customer is currently residing, the bank may take a declaration of the local address on which all correspondence will be made by the bank with the customer. No proof is required to be submitted for such address for correspondence/local address,” the RBI added. However, this address may be verified by the bank through ‘positive confirmation’ such as acknowledgment of receipt of letter, cheque books, ATM cards; telephonic conversation; and visits. “In the event of change in this address due to relocation or any other reason, customers may intimate the new address for correspondence to the bank within two weeks of such a change,” the notification said.
