KYC Relief for Migrating Customers (2013): UCBs Can Accept Self-Declaration
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/431 · issued 07 Mar 2013 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI eased KYC for urban co-operative banks in 2013: existing accounts can be transferred without fresh address proof if a self-declaration is given, with proof due within six months. Rent agreements duly registered with State Government or similar authority are also accepted as address proof.
The rule, in the simplest words
Urban co-operative banks can transfer existing accounts to a new branch without fresh address proof if a self-declaration is given.
A self-declaration of current address is enough, but proof must be submitted within six months.
Registered rent agreements are accepted as valid address proof for KYC purposes.
How it plays out — a real example
Rahul, a KYC & compliance officer in Indore, helps a customer transfer their account to a new branch without requiring fresh address proof. The customer provides a self-declaration of their current address, and Rahul explains that proof must be submitted within six months. He also reminds the customer to inform the bank of any address changes within two weeks.
What changed
In 2013, RBI allowed UCBs to transfer existing accounts to a new branch without insisting on fresh address proof immediately. Instead, a self-declaration of current address suffices, provided proof is submitted within six months. Additionally, registered rent agreements (duly registered with State Government or similar registration authority) are now accepted as valid address proof alongside existing documents.
What it means for you
This reduces friction for customers with transferable jobs or those relocating, as they no longer need to produce utility bills or similar documents upfront. UCBs can retain and serve migrating customers more smoothly, but must track the six-month deadline for proof submission. Banks should update their KYC policies to incorporate these relaxations while ensuring compliance with PMLA obligations.
What you must do
Update your KYC policy to allow account transfers based on a self-declaration of address, with proof required within six months.
Accept registered rent agreements as valid address proof for KYC purposes.
Inform customers to report address changes within two weeks and obtain an undertaking to this effect during account opening and periodic KYC updates.
Ensure strict adherence to the revised KYC policy and maintain records of self-declarations and subsequent proof submissions.
Who it affects
Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Customers with transferable jobs or those migrating for work, Branch operations teams handling account transfers
❓ Common questions
Can a customer transfer their account without any address proof at all?
Yes, for existing accounts, the transferee branch can accept a self-declaration of the current address. However, the customer must submit proof of address (e.g., utility bill, registered rent agreement) within six months of the transfer.
Is a rent agreement acceptable as address proof for KYC?
Yes, a rent agreement that is duly registered with the State Government or a similar registration authority is now an acceptable document for proof of address, in addition to the documents listed in the Master Circular.
What happens if the customer fails to submit address proof within six months?
The circular does not specify penalties, but banks should ensure compliance with KYC norms. It is advisable to follow up with the customer and, if proof is not provided, consider restricting account operations or closing the account as per the bank's KYC policy.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2012-13/431
UBD.BPD (PCB) Cir. No. 39/14.01.062/2012-13
March 7, 2013
The Chief Executive Officer of
All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks
Madam/Dear Sir,
Know Your Customer (KYC) Norms/Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Measures/Combating of Financing of Terrorism (CFT) / Obligations of banks under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 – Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks
Please refer to our circular UBD.BPD (PCB) Cir. No. 28/14.01.062/2012-13 dated December 19, 2012 on simplification of Know Your Customer (KYC) norms / Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Standards/Combating of Financing of Terrorism (CFT)/Obligation of banks under PMLA, 2002. With a view to further easing the KYC process for the general public, especially customers who migrate to a new place on account of new job, transfer, etc., it has been decided to effect the following modifications to the existing instructions.
2. Shifting of bank accounts to another centre – Proof of address:
Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs) were advised vide circular UBD.BPD (PCB) Cir. No.3/14.01.062/2012-13 dated July 10, 2012 that KYC once done by one branch of the bank should be valid for transfer of the account within the bank as long as full KYC procedure had been done for the concerned account. The customer should be allowed to transfer his account from one branch to another branch without restrictions. In order to comply with KYC requirements of correct address of the person, fresh address proof has to be obtained from him/her upon such transfer by the transferee branch. However, a large number of customers with transferable jobs or those who migrate for jobs are unable to produce a utility bill or other documents in their name as address proof immediately after relocating. In view of this, it has been decided that:
UCBs may transfer existing accounts at the transferor branch to the transferee branch without insisting on fresh proof of address and on the basis of a self-declaration from the account holder about his/her current address, subject to submitting proof of address within a period of six months.
UCBs may also accept rent agreement duly registered with State Government or similar registration authority indicating the address of the customer, in addition to other documents listed as proof of address in Annex I of our Master Circular on KYC/AML/CFT dated July 2, 2012.
3. UCBs should intimate their customers that in the event of change in address due to relocation or any other reason, they should intimate the new address to the bank within two weeks of such a change. While opening new accounts and while periodically updating KYC data as required in terms of paragraph 2.4 (c) of our Master Circular UBD.BPD. (PCB).MC.No.16/12.05.001/2012-13 dated July 2, 2012 , an undertaking to this effect should be obtained. In all these cases customers will have to produce proof of address as mentioned at (a) and (b) above.
4. UCBs may revise their KYC policy in the light of the above instructions and ensure strict adherence to the same.
Yours faithfully,
(A. Udgata)
Chief General Manager-in-Charge
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/431 · issued 07 Mar 2013. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Inform customers to report address changes within two weeks and obtain an undertaking to this effect during account opening and periodic KYC updates.
⚙️ Operations
Ensure strict adherence to the revised KYC policy and maintain records of self-declarations and subsequent proof submissions.
📜 Compliance
Update your KYC policy to allow account transfers based on a self-declaration of address, with proof required within six months.
Accept registered rent agreements as valid address proof for KYC purposes.
Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.
Worked example & action-note template
Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Customers with transferable jobs or those migrating for work, Branch operations teams handling account transfers), your first concrete step on “KYC Relief for Migrating Customers (2013): UCBs Can Accept Self-Declaration” is: “Update your KYC policy to allow account transfers based on a self-declaration of address, with proof required within six months.” (RBI issued this 07 Mar 2013).
Circular: RBI/2012-13/431 -- KYC Relief for Migrating Customers (2013): UCBs Can Accept Self-Declaration
Issued: 07 Mar 2013
Action required: Update your KYC policy to allow account transfers based on a self-declaration of address, with proof required within six months.
Action required: Accept registered rent agreements as valid address proof for KYC purposes.
Action required: Inform customers to report address changes within two weeks and obtain an undertaking to this effect during account opening and periodic KYC updates.
Action required: Ensure strict adherence to the revised KYC policy and maintain records of self-declarations and subsequent proof submissions.
Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
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.
💬 Banker Discussion
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=7882&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.
Help us keep this accurate
Found an inaccuracy or have an improvement? Tell us. Every report is reviewed by our team before any change is made — nothing goes live unverified.
Public beta — plain-English informational summaries. Always verify against the official RBI source (circular number cited on every page) before making compliance, credit, treasury, audit, or operational decisions. · Join our WhatsApp channel ↗
BANKPULSE · FREE DAILY BRIEF
Get RBI updates for your role
Every important RBI update, decoded in plain English — for your career, exams & financial awareness.
We collect only your email, name and role, used solely to send your brief — never sold or shared. Withdraw anytime via the unsubscribe link in any email. Independent platform, not affiliated with the RBI. Information, not legal advice.
REPORT AN ERROR · BETA
Spotted an error? Earn 500 BankPulse Credits
Help us stay accurate. If your correction is verified true and approved by our founder, you earn 500 BankPulse Credits — redeemable when the platform monetises.
Reviewed by a human before any credit is awarded. We never change the site from crowd input without verification.
WANT A NEW FEATURE · BETA
What would make BankPulse more useful for you?
Tell us what to build next — a tool, a data view, a role page, anything. We read every suggestion.
Thank you — your ideas directly shape what we build.