India’s largest commercial bank, the State Bank of India (SBI), has launched ‘Doorstep Banking’ for senior citizen customers over 70 years of age, differently-abled customers and infirm customers, including visually-impaired customers. As per the press release issued by the bank ,
under this new facility customers will be able to avail certain specific services at select branches.
under this new facility customers will be able to avail certain specific services at select branches.
Doorstep Banking Services are available to fully KYC-compliant account holders, with a valid mobile number registered with the bank and residing within 5 KM of radius from their Home Branch. This service will not be available for accounts operated jointly, minor account and accounts of non-personal nature.
Eligible customers can avail theses services with a nominal fee of Rs 100 per transaction for financial transactions and Rs 60 per transaction for non-financial transactions. Customers will have to register at their home branch and additionally, differently-abled and infirm customers will have to submit a medical certificate to that effect to register for this service.
The list of specific services will include – Cash pickup & delivery, Cheque pickup, Cheque book requisition slip pickup, Delivery of drafts & Term deposit advice, Life certificate pick-up and Pickup of Form 15H for Income Tax purposes.
Earlier, the RBI had asked all the banks to put certain essential things in place for the benefit of the senor citizens and also for the differently-abled including visually impaired persons.
Also, banks have to automatically convert fully KYC compliant accounts into ‘senior citizen accounts’ on the basis of date of birth available with bank records.
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 have already been advised by the RBI 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 residence of such account holders.
At times, seniors send someone else to collect a cheque book from the bank branch. Banks shall not insist on physical presence of any customer including senior citizens and differently-abled persons for getting cheque books. Further, banks are advised by the RBI to provide minimum 25 cheque leaves every year, if requested, in a savings bank account, free of charge.
