India / Banking

How to open a savings bank account in India

Any resident individual can open a savings account at a branch, through a Bank Mitra, or online by Aadhaar OTP e-KYC or video KYC. You need proof of identity and address (Aadhaar or another officially valid document) plus PAN or Form 60. Every bank must also offer a zero balance Basic Savings Bank Deposit (BSBD) account, and a person with no documents at all can start with a restricted Small Account.

Fee: Free to open; a BSBD account has no minimum balance
Time: Varies by bank
How: Branch, Bank Mitra, or online (Aadhaar OTP e-KYC or video KYC)

Checked against official sources on 12 October 2026. See the 6 sources.

Not confirmed

These points could not be confirmed on an official page on 12 October 2026. Check them with the office or portal before you rely on them.

How many days a bank takes to activate a new account is not fixed by RBI; no official timeline was found, so the guide says it varies by bank
Each bank's own minimum balance, debit card fee and penal charge for regular savings accounts were not checked; they differ by bank and account variant
The list of documents on the pmjdy.gov.in site could not be opened on 12 Oct 2026 (the scheme page does not list them and direct requests to the FAQ page timed out); the documents section relies on RBI's KYC Directions, which apply to Jan Dhan accounts as well
The eligibility conditions for the Rs 10,000 Jan Dhan overdraft are not spelled out on the scheme page

Quick answer

Pick a bank, then choose one of three routes:

Branch or Bank Mitra (Business Correspondent): carry your Aadhaar or another officially valid document, your PAN (or fill Form 60 if you have no PAN) and a photo. This gives a full account with no special limits.
Video KYC (V-CIP): done on a live video call with a bank official. RBI treats it on par with a branch visit, so the account has no special limits.
Aadhaar OTP e-KYC only: the fastest route, but RBI caps it. Total balance cannot cross Rs 1 lakh, total credits in a financial year cannot cross Rs 2 lakh, and the account must be converted to full KYC within one year or it is closed.

If you want an account with no minimum balance, ask for a Basic Savings Bank Deposit (BSBD) account. Every bank must offer one. A Jan Dhan (PMJDY) account is a BSBD account with extra scheme benefits.

Who can apply

Any individual. RBI's rules say a bank's customer acceptance policy must not deny banking to the general public, especially people who are financially or socially disadvantaged, and persons with disabilities can use every account opening route.
Minors: a minor of any age can have a savings account opened and operated through a natural or legal guardian, including the mother as guardian. A minor aged 10 or above may open and operate an account independently, up to the amount and on the terms the bank fixes.
Joint accounts: every joint holder has to complete KYC.
BSBD account: open to everyone, but you may hold only one BSBD account across all banks. The bank will take a declaration that you do not have a BSBD account in any other bank.
Jan Dhan account: meant for a person who does not already have a bank account.
Small Account: for a person who has none of the required documents (see below).

Documents you need

RBI's KYC Directions (paragraph 23) say a bank must obtain the following from an individual.

What	Accepted
Identity and address	Aadhaar number (for e-KYC), or proof of possession of Aadhaar, or any other officially valid document (OVD), or your KYC Identifier (CKYC number) with consent to download your record
Tax identity	PAN, or Form No. 60 if you do not have a PAN
Photograph	A recent photo, or a live photo taken by the bank during digital KYC or video KYC
Other	The bank may ask for documents on your occupation and financial status

Officially valid documents (OVDs): passport, driving licence, proof of possession of Aadhaar number, Voter ID card issued by the Election Commission of India, NREGA job card signed by a State Government officer, and the letter issued by the National Population Register with name and address.

If your OVD does not show your current address, the bank must accept any one of these for address only: a utility bill not more than two months old (electricity, telephone, post-paid mobile, piped gas, water), a property or municipal tax receipt, a pension payment order that shows the address, or an accommodation allotment letter from a government department, PSU, scheduled commercial bank, financial institution or listed company. You must then submit an OVD with the current address within three months. RBI's own example: a person living in Chennai with a New Delhi address on the OVD can open the account in Chennai this way.

Points people get wrong:

Aadhaar is not mandatory for KYC. It is required only if you want a government benefit or subsidy credited to the account. Otherwise giving it is voluntary.
If you give a copy of Aadhaar where authentication is not needed, the bank must make sure the Aadhaar number is redacted or blacked out.
Name changed after marriage or otherwise: the old OVD is accepted with a marriage certificate issued by the State Government or a Gazette notification.
A thumb impression is accepted in place of a signature.

Steps

Online by Aadhaar OTP e-KYC

Use only the bank's own website or official app. Start the savings account application.
Enter your Aadhaar number and give consent for OTP authentication. The OTP goes to the mobile number linked with your Aadhaar.
Enter PAN (or Form 60 details) and the remaining profile details. You will have to declare that you have not opened, and will not open, another OTP based account with any other bank or regulated entity.
The account opens with these RBI conditions: aggregate balance of all your deposit accounts not above Rs 1 lakh; total credits in a financial year not above Rs 2 lakh; transaction alerts and OTPs go only to the Aadhaar linked mobile number.
Within one year, complete full KYC at a branch or by video KYC. If you do not, RBI requires the bank to close the account immediately. If the balance crosses Rs 1 lakh before that, the bank must stop operations in the account until full KYC is done.

Online by video KYC (V-CIP)

Start the application on the bank's own site or app and choose video KYC if the bank offers it. The bank's video KYC system has to block connections from IP addresses outside India.
Keep your original PAN card in hand (an e-PAN is fine, a printout of an e-PAN is not) and good lighting.
A trained bank official records the call, takes your photo, and identifies you by Aadhaar OTP e-KYC, offline Aadhaar verification, your CKYC record, or a DigiLocker document. An Aadhaar XML file or secure QR code must not be older than three working days.
You will be asked questions in a varied order to prove the call is live. Blinking, smiling or other gestures are not mandatory. If anyone prompts you from off camera, the bank has to reject the application.
The account becomes operational only after the bank's concurrent audit of the recording.

In person

Go to any branch, or a Bank Mitra (Business Correspondent) outlet, with original documents.
Ask for the account opening form. If you want a zero balance account, say "Basic Savings Bank Deposit account". The bank is required to explain how a BSBD account differs from its other savings variants.
Submit Aadhaar (biometric or OTP e-KYC can be done on the spot) or another OVD, PAN or Form 60, and a photograph. Under the digital KYC process the official takes a live photo of you and of your original document, and an OTP sent to your own mobile number acts as your signature on the form.
Fill the nomination. The bank must tell you about the nomination facility at account opening.
Ask in writing for the facilities you want: debit card, cheque book, internet and mobile banking. In a BSBD account these are given only if you ask.
Note the reference number the official gives you, and collect the passbook or account details once the account is activated.

No documents at all: Small Account

A bank has to open a Small Account for an individual who cannot produce the documents above. You give a self attested photograph and sign or put your thumb impression in front of the bank officer. Limits:

Limit	Amount
Total credits in a financial year	Rs 1 lakh
Total withdrawals and transfers in a month	Rs 10,000
Balance at any time	Rs 50,000 (government grants and welfare benefits are not counted)

The account runs for 12 months. It can continue for another 12 months only if you show proof that you applied for an OVD during the first 12 months. Foreign remittances cannot be credited.

Fees

Opening: RBI rules do not prescribe any account opening fee, and a BSBD account cannot require an initial deposit.
BSBD account, free by RBI rule (from 1 April 2026): cash deposits with no limit on number or value; receipt of money by any electronic channel or cheque; an ATM or ATM-cum-debit card with no annual fee at issue or renewal; a cheque book of at least 25 leaves a year; internet and mobile banking; passbook or monthly statement; and at least four free withdrawals a month, including transfers and ATM withdrawals at any bank's ATM. UPI, NEFT, RTGS, IMPS and card payments at shops are not counted as withdrawals.
Regular savings account: the minimum balance and charges are set by each bank. The bank must tell you the minimum balance and the charge at account opening. Before charging a penalty it must give notice and at least one month to restore the balance, the penalty must be proportionate to the shortfall, and it cannot push the account into a negative balance.

How long it takes

RBI does not fix a number of days. A video KYC account is activated after the bank's audit of the call. At a branch it depends on the bank. Converting an existing savings account to a BSBD account must be done within seven days of your written request.

How to check status

Use the application or reference number given at the end of the online journey or by the branch official, on the bank's own site, app or at the branch. There is no common government portal for bank account applications.

Common problems

"Aadhaar OTP not received": the OTP goes only to the mobile number registered with Aadhaar. Use the branch or another OVD if that number is not with you.
Account frozen or closed after a year: it was an OTP e-KYC account that was never upgraded. Finish full KYC at a branch or by video KYC before the year ends.
Bank insists on a minimum balance for a basic account: ask specifically for a BSBD account. RBI calls it a normal banking service that every bank must offer to all.
Bank refuses a second zero balance account: correct. One person, one BSBD account, across all banks.
Different city on your ID: give a deemed address proof now and an OVD with the current address within three months.
Bank asks you to submit everything again though you have a CKYC number: if you give your KYC Identifier and consent, the bank should fetch the record from the Central KYC Records Registry and not demand the same documents again, unless your details have changed, the record is incomplete or expired, or it needs to verify your current address.

Fraud warning: open accounts only on the bank's own website, app or branch. Never share an OTP, PIN or CVV with a caller, never let anyone else operate an account opened in your name, and do not install screen sharing apps because someone on a call asks you to.

FAQ

Can I open a bank account without a PAN card?

Yes. RBI's rules allow Form No. 60 in place of PAN.

Is Aadhaar compulsory to open a bank account?

No. RBI states that Aadhaar is not mandatory for KYC unless you want a government benefit or subsidy in the account. Passport, driving licence, Voter ID, NREGA job card or the NPR letter are equally valid.

What is the limit on an account opened with only Aadhaar OTP?

Aggregate balance of all your deposit accounts up to Rs 1 lakh, total credits up to Rs 2 lakh in a financial year, and a life of one year unless you complete full KYC.

What is the difference between a BSBD account and a Jan Dhan account?

A Jan Dhan account is a BSBD account opened under the PMJDY scheme. It adds a RuPay debit card with accident insurance cover (Rs 2 lakh for accounts opened after 28 August 2018) and an overdraft of up to Rs 10,000 for eligible holders.

Can I have a BSBD account in two banks?

No. The holder of a BSBD account cannot open another BSBD account in the same or any other bank.

Can I convert my existing savings account into a zero balance account?

Yes. Give a written request, or use the bank's digital channel. The bank must convert it to a BSBD account within seven days.

Can a child have a bank account?

Yes. A minor of any age can have an account through a guardian, and a minor aged 10 or above can operate one independently within the limits the bank sets. The account cannot be overdrawn.

I have no ID proof at all. Can I still open an account?

Yes, a Small Account, with the limits in the table above. It lasts 12 months and can be extended by 12 months if you apply for an OVD in the meantime.

Is video KYC as good as going to the branch?

Yes. RBI treats V-CIP on par with face to face identification, so the account does not carry the Rs 1 lakh and one year limits of an OTP only account.

Official links

Sources

Every fee, time limit, form and address above was read on these official pages on 12 October 2026.

RBI, Commercial Banks Know Your Customer Directions, 2025 (updated as on 1 October 2026) Supports Documents a bank must obtain from an individual (paragraph 23); list of officially valid documents and deemed address proofs with the three month rule; Aadhaar not mandatory; digital KYC; Aadhaar OTP e-KYC account conditions (paragraph 25); video KYC procedure (paragraphs 26 and 27); Small Account limits and 12 plus 12 month validity (paragraph 28); KYC valid on branch transfer (paragraph 29)
RBI, FAQs on Master Direction on KYC Supports Modes of onboarding (face to face, V-CIP, non face to face); opening an account in a city different from the address on the document; name change; joint account holders; KYC Identifier and ckycindia.in; thumb impression accepted; persons with disabilities can use every mode
RBI, Commercial Banks Responsible Business Conduct Directions, 2025 (page, updated as on 1 October 2026) Supports Landing page for the Directions PDF used below
RBI, Commercial Banks Responsible Business Conduct Directions, 2025 (PDF) Supports BSBD account free facilities from 1 April 2026 (paragraphs 86 to 92), one BSBD account per person, conversion within seven days; minimum balance disclosure and penal charge rules (paragraphs 159 and 160); accounts of minors (paragraphs 186 to 190); nomination to be offered at account opening (paragraphs 265 and 267)
Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Scheme details Supports Jan Dhan account is a BSBD account opened at any branch or Bank Mitra outlet; no minimum balance; RuPay debit card; accident insurance cover of Rs 1 lakh (Rs 2 lakh for accounts opened after 28 August 2018); overdraft up to Rs 10,000 for eligible holders; toll free numbers 1800 11 0001 and 1800 180 1111
Central KYC Records Registry Supports The CKYCR portal named in RBI's KYC FAQ as the place to look up a KYC Identifier (site opened, contents not relied on)

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