UCBs: Premature FD Withdrawal by Survivor Joint Holder – Clarification
No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/180 · issued 30 Aug 2012 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI clarifies that UCBs can allow premature withdrawal of term deposits by a surviving joint holder only if a joint mandate was obtained. Banks must incorporate this clause in account opening forms and inform depositors. No penal charges apply.
What changed
RBI reiterated that premature withdrawal by a surviving joint holder under 'Either or Survivor' or 'Former or Survivor' mandates requires a specific joint mandate. UCBs must now invariably include this clause in account opening forms and proactively inform both existing and future depositors about this option. The circular supersedes the earlier paragraph 3 of the July 14, 2005 circular.
What it means for you
UCBs must update their account opening forms to include a clause allowing premature withdrawal by the survivor upon death of the other joint depositor, subject to a joint mandate. This reduces legal hassles for survivors and avoids the need to seek concurrence from legal heirs. Banks that fail to do so risk causing inconvenience to depositors and may face regulatory scrutiny.
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
Incorporate the joint mandate clause in all new account opening forms for term/fixed deposits with joint holders.
Proactively inform existing term deposit holders about the option to give a joint mandate for premature withdrawal by the survivor.
Allow joint depositors to provide the mandate at deposit placement or anytime during the deposit tenure.
Ensure no penal charge is levied on premature withdrawals made under this mandate.
Review and update internal procedures to align with this circular, superseding the earlier 2005 guidance.
Who it affects
Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Joint term/fixed deposit holders with 'Either or Survivor' or 'Former or Survivor' mandate, Legal heirs of deceased joint depositors
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-18 18:18 IST
repealed_by — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)
Status change: withdrawn03 Aug 2026, 04:00 IST
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
Can a surviving joint holder withdraw a fixed deposit prematurely without a joint mandate?
No, RBI mandates that a specific joint mandate from all joint depositors is required. Without it, the bank cannot allow premature withdrawal by the survivor.
Is there any penalty for premature withdrawal under this provision?
No, the circular explicitly states that such premature withdrawal will not attract any penal charge.
When can the joint mandate be given?
The mandate can be given either at the time of placing the fixed deposit or anytime subsequently during the term/tenure of the deposit.
📜 This document’s life story (1 recorded event, each backed by RBI’s own words)
Repealed byRBI/2025-26/100 — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)
RBI’s words: “Official withdrawal register entry #1235: UBD.BPD.(PCB)CIR.No.6/13.01.000/2012-13 — "Premature Repayment of Term / Fixed Deposits in banks with 'Either or Survivor' or 'Former or Survivor' mandate - C”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2012-13/180
UBD.BPD.(PCB)CIR No.6/13.01.000/2012-13
August 30, 2012
The Chief Executive Officers
All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks
Dear Sir,
Premature Repayment of Term/Fixed Deposits in banks with
“Either or Survivor” or “Former or Survivor” mandate – Clarification
Please refer to paragraph 4 of our circular UBD.BPD.(PCB)CIR No.11/13.01.000/ 2011-12 dated November 17, 2011 whereby we had advised that in case joint depositors of term/fixed deposits with “Either or Survivor” or “Former or Survivor” mandate intend to allow premature withdrawal of their deposits by one of the joint depositors on the death of the other, it would be open for banks to allow the same, provided they have taken a specific joint mandate from the depositors for the said purpose. In this regard you may also refer to Paragraph 3 of our circular UBD.BPD.Cir.No.4/13.01.00/2005-06 dated July 14, 2005 in terms of which, Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) were advised to incorporate a clause in the account opening form itself to the effect that in the event of death of the depositor, premature termination of term deposits would be allowed subject to the conditions which they may specify therein. UCBs were also advised to give wide publicity to the above and provide guidance to deposit account holders in this regard.
2. It is reiterated that in case of term deposits with “Either or Survivor” or “Former or Survivor” mandate, UCBs are permitted to allow premature withdrawal of the deposit by the surviving joint depositor on the death of the other, only if, there is a joint mandate from the joint depositors to this effect.
3. UCBs which have neither incorporated such a clause in the account opening form nor taken adequate measures to make the customers aware of the facility of such mandate, cause unnecessary inconvenience to the “surviving“ deposit account holders(s). UCBs are, therefore, advised to invariably incorporate the aforesaid clause in the account opening form and also inform their existing as well as future term deposit holders about the availability of such an option.
4. The joint deposit holders may be permitted to give the mandate either at the time of placing fixed deposit or anytime subsequently during the term/tenure of the deposit. If such a mandate is obtained, banks can allow premature withdrawal of term/fixed deposits by the surviving depositor without seeking the concurrence of the legal heirs of the deceased joint deposit holder. It is also reiterated that such premature withdrawal would not attract any penal charge.
5. The clarification provided in this circular would supersede paragraph 3 of circular UBD.BPD.Cir.No.4/13.01.00/2005-06 dated July 14, 2005.
Yours faithfully,
(A.Udgata)
Chief General Manager-in-Charge
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/180 · issued 30 Aug 2012. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Discuss this circular with fellow bankers — reply, upvote what helps, report what doesn’t belong. Be professional; no client data. Views are the commenter’s own, not BankPulse’s.
BankPulse Compliance Evidence Pack — generated 03 Aug 2026 · status cross-checked against RBI’s official withdrawal register (refreshed weekly). Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=7532&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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