HomeCirculars › RBI/2010-11/454

Nomination Rules Clarified: No Witness Attestation Needed for Signatures

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/454 · issued 30 Mar 2011 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI clarifies that accountholder signatures on nomination forms DA1, DA2, DA3 need not be attested by witnesses. Also, nomination facility is available for joint deposit accounts, including those with 'Either or Survivor' mandate. Banks must ensure compliance.

What changed

RBI, after consulting IBA, clarified that signatures on nomination forms (DA1, DA2, DA3) do not require witness attestation, only thumb impressions need attestation. Additionally, RBI explicitly stated that nomination facility is available for joint deposit accounts, including those with 'Either or Survivor' mandate, addressing reports that customers were being dissuaded from using it.

What it means for you

Banks must update their internal procedures and staff training to stop insisting on witness attestation for signatures on nomination forms, reducing customer friction. For joint deposit accounts, banks must actively offer nomination facility and not discourage customers, ensuring compliance with the Banking Regulation Act provisions.

Historical instruction — do not use for current compliance. This is what was required at the time; it no longer reflects current RBI requirements. If no replacement rule is linked above, that only means none is recorded on our register yet — it does not prove no later applicable rule exists. Confirm on the official RBI source below.

What banks were required to do at the time

Who it affects

All Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs), Branch managers and frontline staff handling deposit accounts, Customers opening or maintaining joint deposit accounts, Compliance and legal teams at banks

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).

Do I need witnesses to attest my signature on nomination forms?

No, as per RBI's March 2011 clarification, only thumb impressions require witness attestation; signatures on forms DA1, DA2, and DA3 do not need attestation.

Can I nominate a person for my joint deposit account?

Yes, nomination facility is available for all joint deposit accounts, including those with 'Either or Survivor' mandate. Banks must offer this facility.

📜 This document’s life story (2 recorded events, each backed by RBI’s own words)
Clarified by Nomination Forms: Only Thumb Impressions Need Witnesses
RBI’s words: “Please refer to para 1 of our Circular DBOD.No.Leg.BC.83/09.07.005/2010-11 dated March 30, 2011”
Repealed by RBI/2025-26/100 — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)
RBI’s words: “Official withdrawal register entry #1540: DBOD.No.Leg.BC.83/09.07.005/2010-11 — "The Banking Companies (Nomination) Rules, 1985 - Clarifications" dated March 30, 2011”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2010-11/454 DBOD.No. Leg. BC. 83/09.07.005/2010-11 March 30, 2011 All Scheduled Commercial Banks (Excluding RRBs) Dear Sir, The Banking Companies (Nomination) Rules, 1985- Clarifications 1. Witness in nomination forms As you are aware, the Banking Companies (Nomination) Rules, 1985 have been framed in exercise of powers conferred by Section 52 read with Sections 45ZA, 45ZC and 45ZE of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. The nomination forms (DA1, DA2 and DA3) have also been prescribed in the Nomination Rules. These forms, inter alia, prescribe that the thumb impression of the accountholder is required to be attested by two witnesses. It has come to our notice that some banks also insist on attestation of signature by witnesses. We have examined the issue in consultation with Indian Banks' Association and clarify that signatures of the accountholders in forms DA1, DA2 and DA3 need not be attested by witnesses. 2. Nomination in case of joint Deposit Accounts It is understood that sometimes the customers opening joint accounts with or without "Either or Survivor " mandate, are dissuaded from exercising the nomination facility. It is clarified that nomination facility is available for joint deposit accounts also. Banks are, therefore, advised to ensure that their branches offer nomination facility to all deposit accounts including joint accounts opened by the customers. Banks are advised to ensure strict compliance of the instructions as per the clarification given above. Yours faithfully (P R Ravi Mohan) Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/454 · issued 30 Mar 2011. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=6314&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert reviewer, CA Amit Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; is our own plain-English paraphrase, not RBI’s original wording.
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