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Aadhaar Letter Now Valid KYC Document for UCBs

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/253 · issued 09 Nov 2011 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI now allows Primary Urban Co-operative Banks to accept the UIDAI letter containing name, address, and Aadhaar number as an officially valid document under PML Rules for customer identification, but banks must still independently verify the customer's current address.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

A KYC & compliance officer in Indore, Mr. Rao, can now use the UIDAI letter as a valid document for customer identification, but he must still ask for a separate proof of the customer's current address, such as a utility bill or a passport, to ensure compliance with KYC norms and anti-money laundering standards. This simplifies the account opening process for customers, but maintains the bank's responsibility to verify the customer's identity and address.

What changed

RBI has clarified that the letter issued by UIDAI containing name, address, and Aadhaar number is recognized as an officially valid document under the Prevention of Money Laundering (PML) Rules, 2005. This follows a Government of India notification from December 2010. Banks are reminded that even when using Aadhaar for account opening, they must obtain separate proof of the customer's current address as per existing KYC instructions.

What it means for you

Urban Co-operative Banks can now use the UIDAI letter as a valid KYC document, simplifying customer onboarding. However, the requirement to verify the current address separately remains unchanged, so banks cannot rely solely on the Aadhaar letter for address proof. This ensures compliance with both KYC norms and anti-money laundering standards.

What you must do

Who it affects

All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Compliance and KYC teams at UCBs, Branch staff handling account opening

❓ Common questions

Can we use the Aadhaar letter as the only document for identity and address proof?

No. The UIDAI letter is valid for identity, but you must still obtain separate proof of the customer's current address as per existing KYC instructions.

Does this circular apply to all types of accounts?

Yes, it applies to all account openings where Aadhaar is used, but the address verification requirement remains mandatory.

What if the UIDAI letter does not have the current address?

You must obtain a separate officially valid document that proves the current address, as per the master circular on KYC norms.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2011-12/253 UBD. BPD. (PCB) No. 8/12.05.001/2011-12 November 9, 2011 The Chief Executive Officer All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks Dear Sir, Know Your Customer Norms – Letter issued by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) containing details of name, address and Aadhaar number Please refer to circular UBD. BPD. (PCB). No. 38 / 12.05.001/2010-11 dated March 15, 2011 enclosing a copy of the Government of India Notification No. 14/2010/F.No. 6/2/2007-ES dated December 16, 2010 notifying the Prevention of Money Laundering (Maintenance of Records of the Nature and Value of Transactions, the Procedure and Manner of Maintaining and Time for Furnishing Information and Verification and Maintenance of Records of the Identity of the Clients of the Banking Companies, Financial Institutions and Intermediaries) Third Amendment Rules, 2010. The said notification, inter alia, recognizes the letter issued by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) containing details of name, address and Aadhaar number, as an officially valid document under Rule 2(1) (d) of the PML Rules, 2005. 2. In this connection, attention of UCBs is invited to paragraph 2.4 (d) of the Master Circular on Know Your Customer (KYC) norms / Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Standards /Combating of Financing of Terrorism (CFT) / Obligation of Banks under Prevention of Money Laundering (PMLA), 2002 dated July 01, 2011, dealing with customer identification and it is advised that while opening accounts based on Aadhaar also, banks must satisfy themselves about the current address of the customer by obtaining required proof of the same as per extant instructions. 3. Please acknowledge receipt to the Regional Office of the Urban Banks Department concerned. Yours faithfully, (L.M.Kamble) General Manager - Officer-in-Charge
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/253 · issued 09 Nov 2011. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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Worked example & action-note template

Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Compliance and KYC teams at UCBs, Branch staff handling account opening), your first concrete step on “Aadhaar Letter Now Valid KYC Document for UCBs” is: “Accept the UIDAI letter containing name, address, and Aadhaar number as an officially valid document for customer identification.” (RBI issued this 09 Nov 2011).

  1. Circular: RBI/2011-12/253 -- Aadhaar Letter Now Valid KYC Document for UCBs
  2. Issued: 09 Nov 2011
  3. Action required: Accept the UIDAI letter containing name, address, and Aadhaar number as an officially valid document for customer identification.
  4. Action required: Ensure that for accounts opened using Aadhaar, you still obtain and verify a separate proof of the customer's current address as per existing instructions.
  5. Action required: Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your Regional Office of the Urban Banks Department.
  6. Action required: Update your internal KYC/AML policies to reflect this recognition of the UIDAI letter.
  7. Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
  8. Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
  9. Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
Built only from this circular’s own published fields — not legal advice; always confirm against the official RBI source.

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Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=6807&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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