Ans. V-CIP may be used for carrying out the following processes:

1. to undertake CDD in case of onboarding a new individual customer, proprietor in case of proprietorship firm, authorised signatories and beneficial owners in case of Legal Entity customers;
2. to convert existing account opened in non-face-to-face mode using Aadhaar OTP based e-KYC authentication; and
3. for updation/ periodic updation of KYC records of eligible customers.

Ans. RE is required to update the customers’ KYC records as part of ongoing due diligence process to ensure that the information or data collected under CDD is kept up to date and relevant. The periodicity of such updation depends on the risk categorisation of the customer by the RE and such periodic updation of KYC records (at times referred to as re-KYC) shall be carried out at least once in every two years for high-risk, eight years for medium risk and ten years for low-risk customers. However, RE may adopt any additional and exceptional measures as per its internal KYC policy which inter alia may require physical presence of the customer, periodic updation of KYC only in the branch of the RE where account is maintained, a more frequent periodicity of KYC updation than the minimum specified periodicity, etc.

Ans. The broad indicative parameters prescribed for customer’s risk categorisation are customer’s identity, social/ financial status, nature of business activity, information about the customer’s business and his/ her location, geographical risk covering customer as well as transactions, type of products/ services offered, delivery channel used for delivery of products/ services, types of transaction undertaken – cash, cheque/monetary instruments, wire transfers, forex transactions, etc. While considering customer’s identity, the ability to confirm identity documents through online or other services offered by issuing authorities may also be factored in. The risk category and reasons thereof are not required to be divulged to the customers by the RE.

Ans. The modes for periodic updation of KYC for individuals are as under:

1. It can be undertaken at the branch of the RE with which customer maintains the account or any other branch of the same RE; or
2. RE can obtain a self-declaration when there is “no change in KYC information” and also when there is “change only in address details”, through customer’s email-id/ mobile number registered with the RE, ATMs, digital channels (such as online banking / internet banking, mobile application of RE), letter, etc. However, the declared address shall be verified by the RE through positive confirmation within two months; or
3. Aadhaar OTP based e-KYC in non-face-to-face (NF2F) mode and V-CIP;
4. RE is also mandated to update customer’s KYC records based on the update information/ notification, if any, received from CKYCR for the customer concerned.

Ans. The requirement of KYC documents depends on the modes used for periodic updation of KYC as detailed in the reply to Q 24, above.

1. In case of change in the KYC information, the customer has to provide the documents as mentioned in the reply to Q 5 above;
2. In case of no change in KYC information, the customer can provide a self-declaration. Similarly, a self-declaration in case of change only in address can also be provided by the customer to RE as detailed in reply to Q 24 above.
3. In case of Aadhaar OTP-based e-KYC authentication facility in non-face-to-face mode, the customer can provide a declaration of the current address even if the current address is different from the address in Aadhaar database. However, RE shall ensure that mobile number for Aadhaar authentication is same as the one available with it in the customer’s profile, in order to prevent any fraud.
4. In case of use of V-CIP for completing re-KYC, the requirements shall be as per paragraph 18 of the Master Direction on KYC, which include identification and verification of the identity using (i) Aadhaar OTP based e-KYC authentication in non-face-to-face mode; (ii) offline verification of Aadhaar; (iii) KYC records downloaded from CKYCR; and (iv) equivalent e-documents including documents issued through DigiLocker.

Ans. Yes, once a customer submits updated KYC information or self-declaration to the RE, it shall provide an acknowledgement to this effect to the customer. Upon updating KYC information, the RE shall also intimate customers about such updation.

Ans. Yes, the RE shall intimate its customer, in advance, to comply with the requirement of periodic updation of KYC. Subsequent to the due date, RE shall also give reminders to such customer who has still not complied with the requirements, despite advance intimations.

Ans. Prevention of Money-Laundering (Maintenance of Records) Rules, 2005 enable the REs to obtain the identity records (including updated records of identity) from the customers, failing which the RE shall close the account of the customers after giving due notice.

Ans. The customer shall exercise utmost caution before clicking links embedded in such SMS/ email as these may be suspicious/ fraudulent. The public is advised not to fall prey to frauds being perpetrated in the name of KYC updation. Please refer to the Press Release dated September 13, 2021 on RBI cautions against frauds in the name of KYC updation.

Ans. Demand Draft/ Payment Order/ Travellers Cheques for amount less than ₹50,000 can be purchased against cash. However, such instrument for ₹50,000 and above can be issued only by way of debiting the customer’s account or against cheques.

Ans. Payment of cheque/ draft/ pay order/ banker’s cheque, if presented beyond the period of three months from the date of issuance of such instrument, shall not be made by RE.

Ans. In case of any change in the OVDs such as change in demographic information or address or other documents submitted by a customer at the time of establishing account-based relationship, the customer shall submit the updated OVD/ other documents to the RE within 30 days of the update/ change/ modification in the documents for the purpose of updating the records at RE’s end. In such case, the RE shall acknowledge the receipt of the KYC documents to the customer.

Ans: Yes, all modes of account opening as mentioned in the reply to Q 13 above, viz. onboarding customer in face-to-face mode; non-face-to-face mode and V-CIP are available to the person with disabilities.

Ans. REs’ Customer Acceptance Policy shall not result in denial of banking/ financial facility to members of the general public, especially those, who are financially or socially disadvantaged, including the persons with disabilities (PWDs). The decision to reject the application of KYC/ periodic updation of KYC shall not be automated and such decisions on rejection shall be reviewed by an official of RE authorised for the purpose.

Ans: The provision to accept thumb impression in place of signatures has already been prescribed for onboarding customer in face-to-face-mode under paragraph 16 and 23 of the MD on KYC.

Ans. Inoperative Account is a savings/ current account wherein no ‘customer induced transactions’ has taken place for a period of over two years. For activation of inoperative accounts, the customer can update his/ her KYC information/ data at home/ non-home branch of the RE, and also through V-CIP, subject to the facility of V-CIP being provided by the bank. The banks shall activate the inoperative accounts, only after adhering to the KYC guidelines provided in the Master Direction on KYC.

¹ Inoperative Account is defined in the circular DOR.SOG (LEG).REC/64/09.08.024/2023-24 dated January 1, 2024 on Inoperative Accounts /Unclaimed Deposits in Banks- Revised Instructions

Ans: To ease the process of activating the ‘Inoperative Accounts’, a bank shall make available the facility of updation of KYC at all branches of the bank, through Video-Customer Identification Process (V-CIP) if requested by a account holder, subject to the facility of V-CIP being provided by the bank.