An account passbook is a booklet that lets you update the account transactions. It is a reference book that lets you track your transaction. What you pay and what you have received will be reflected there along with other charges details.
Presently we have seen that banks are coming up with the digital passbook too. One such instance is the mPassbook of the State Bank of India.
An account passbook is an integral part of owning a savings bank account. Without it, you may face certain issues. To cite an example, there are various institutes and government bodies which require your passbook. It may be while applying for VISA, Aadhaar card etc.
Account passbook is not the kind of thing you use daily and sometimes it gets lost out of our poor safekeeping.
It’s common to lose a passbook. It may be accidental or not able to remember where you kept it. Whatever it is? if you have lost it, what should you do?
So, here’s the process of getting a new passbook if such an incident occurs to you.
- Write an application to your bank
- Produce documents as requested by your bank
- Let your bank verify you that it’s your account
- Get your duplicate passbook
Write an application letter to your bank
It is the initial step that you need to do. While writing an application, do not forget to mention the reason for needing a duplicate passbook.
Other requirements are your account number and your signature as per the bank’s database. Put it in your application and submit it to the concerned staff.
You may directly hand it over to the manager in charge if you want to.
Documents that required
Not many documents are asked for getting a new passbook. Banks usually need these documents to establish the ownership of the account.
We called it KYC (Know your customer) documents which may include aadhaar card, voter card, driver’s licence or passport as per RBI KYC guidelines.
Submit it along with your application letter. And yes, you need to sign every document that you produce.
How to get a duplicate passbook?
Bank normally ask for proof that you have lost your passbook.
When you submit your application letter for a new passbook, the bank will verify your details such as KYC documents and issue you a duplicate passbook.
How much will it cost you?
Getting a duplicate passbook might cost you a few bucks. It is seen that in most of the popular banks in India, the duplicate passbook issue charge range from ₹ 75 to ₹ 100 plus GST.
In urban centres, bank charge ₹ 100 plus GST whereas in rural and semi-urban areas it may cost a bit lower.
You may refer to the chart below which is indicative figures of a few popular banks in India
| Popular Bank | Duplicate Passbook Issue Charge |
|---|---|
| State Bank of India | ₹ 100 plus GST |
| ICICI Bank | Depends on the type of account |
| HDFC Bank | ₹ 100 |
| Others | ₹ 100 is the duplicate passbook issue charge in most banks. Some banks may even charge lower in rural places. |
When you don’t remember the account number!
Surprisingly it does happen. Not all of us can remember those huge numbers.
In case, if you have lost your passbook and you do not remember the account number, you can still get the duplicate passbook.
Seek your bank in this regard. Tell them you have lost your account passbook and there is no way that you could get the account number, which will be required while lodging FIR or flashing on newspaper.
Through your mobile number or your PAN number, your account number can be traced by your bank. But for getting it done, you may need to provide your KYC. A valid ID card with an address properly mentioned in it would work.
The concerned bank staff will initiate establishing your identification with the records that they have. After due verification, they might provide you with the details.
Once you get the account number, follow the above-mentioned process of getting a duplicate passbook.
How long will it take to get the new passbook?
As long as you are able to complete the task of lodging an FIR or flash on a newspaper within a day, you will get your passbook on the same day.
Alternatives of using account passbook.
Yes, there is an alternative to using an account passbook. Such as, most banks now have an e-passbook.
An e-passbook is a digital passbook. It comes along with the mobile application of internet banking. SBI YONO lite has a facility of it by the name mPassbook, where you can literally maintain an account passbook digitally.
Another means is that you can totally rely on online platforms. Passbooks are meant for tracking your account balance by updating at regular intervals of time.
This can be done by downloading the account statement every month or whenever you feel to check your balance and archive it locally on your hard drive.
Or you can mandate the bank to send you the statement of account every month on your registered email.
Why do people still rely on account passbooks?
It’s the sense of longingness that people have. But mostly old-generation folks prefer a printed form of passbook. It is seen most of the young generations do not rely on passbooks.
They prefer digital mode to check the account update. As such online banking is available 24/7 throughout the year. This let maintaining a physical passbook somewhat obsolete.
Another reason why people still stick to printed passbooks is that there are a number of agencies, government departments or schools and colleges, which require passbooks for verification of account details for various purposes.