Cheque Book Facility

 Banks shall issue cheque books to customers, whenever a request is received, through a requisition slip which is part of the cheque book issued earlier. 

 Banks are advised to provide minimum 25 cheque leaves every year, if requested, in savings bank account, free of charge.  Banks shall not insist on physical presence of any customer including senior citizens and differently abled persons for getting cheque books.

 Banks may also issue cheque books, on requisition, by any other mode as per bank’s laid down policy. 

 It is further clarified that providing such facility in BSBDA will not render the account to be classified as non-BSBDA 

 Automatic conversion of status of accounts Presently, in some banks, even fully KYC - compliant accounts are not automatically converted into ‘Senior Citizen Accounts’ on the basis of date of birth maintained in the bank’s records. Banks are advised that a fully KYC compliant account should automatically be converted into a ‘Senior Citizen Account’ based on the date of birth available in bank’s records. 

 Additional Facilities to visually impaired customers Banks are advised that the facilities provided to sick/old/incapacitated persons on Customer Service in Banks (regarding operations of accounts through identification of thumb/toe impression/mark by two independent witnesses and authorising a person who would withdraw the amount on behalf of such customers) shall also be extended to the visually impaired customers. 

 Ease of filing Form 15G/H Banks are advised to provide senior citizens and differently abled persons Form 15G/H once in a year (preferably in April) to enable them to submit the same, where applicable, within the stipulated time. (What is 15G: The bank includes deposits held in all its branches to calculate this limit. But if your total income is below the taxable limit, you can submit Forms 15G and 15H to the bank requesting them not to deduct any TDS on your interest.) 

 Door Step Banking However, in view of the difficulties faced by senior citizens of more than 70 years of age and differently abled or infirm persons (having medically certified chronic illness or disability) including those who are visually impaired, banks are advised to make concerted effort to provide basic banking facilities, such as pick up of cash and instruments against receipt, delivery of cash against withdrawal from account, delivery of demand drafts, submission of Know Your Customer (KYC) documents and Life certificate at the premises/ residence of such customers