Home › Circulars › RBI/2013-14/214

Deceased Depositor Claims: Forms Must Be on Bank Websites

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/214 · issued 03 Sep 2013 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI has directed all scheduled commercial banks (excluding RRBs) to strictly follow the simplified procedure for settling deceased depositor claims and to prominently place claim forms on their websites for easy access.

What changed

RBI reiterated that banks must comply with the 2005 simplified procedure for deceased depositor claims, as public feedback indicated non-compliance. Additionally, banks are now required to provide claim forms to any person approaching a branch and to upload these forms prominently on their websites for download.

What it means for you

Banks must ensure hassle-free settlement of deceased depositor claims by strictly adhering to the existing simplified procedure. Placing claim forms online reduces the need for claimants to visit branches, speeding up the process and improving customer experience. Non-compliance may attract 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

Who it affects

All scheduled commercial banks (excluding RRBs), Branch managers handling deceased depositor claims, Legal and compliance departments, Customers and claimants of deceased depositors

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

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

What is the simplified procedure for deceased depositor claims?

The procedure was specified in RBI circular DBOD.No.Leg.BC.95/09.07.005/2004-05 dated June 9, 2005. Banks must refer to that circular for details.

Do we need to put claim forms on our website?

Yes, RBI mandates that claim forms be placed prominently on the bank's website so claimants can download them without visiting a branch.

What if we are already following the procedure?

Ensure continued compliance and verify that all branches are adhering to the instructions, as public feedback indicated non-compliance.

📜 This document’s life story (1 recorded event, each backed by RBI’s own words)
Repealed by RBI/2025-26/100 — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)
RBI’s words: “Official withdrawal register entry #1037: DBOD.No.Leg.BC.48/09.07.005/2013-14 — "Settlement of Claims of Deceased Depositor - Simplification of Procedure - Placing of Claim Forms on Bank's Website" da”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2013-14/214 DBOD.No.Leg.BC.48/09.07.005/2013-14 September 03, 2013 All Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs) Dear Sir/Madam, Settlement of Claims of Deceased Depositor – Simplification of Procedure – Placing of claim forms on bank’s website Please refer to circular DBOD.No.Leg.BC.95 /09.07.005/2004-05 dated June 09, 2005 wherein simplified procedure has been specified for settlement of claims of deceased depositors. We have been receiving feedback from public that banks are not following the simplified procedure as advised in the circular. Banks are therefore, advised once again that they should strictly comply with the instructions contained therein for hassle-free settlement of claims on the death of a depositor. 2. Further, with a view to facilitate timely settlement of claims on the death of a depositor, banks are advised to provide claim forms for settlement of claims of the deceased accounts, to any person/s who is/are approaching the bank / branches for forms. Claim forms may also be put on the bank’s website prominently so that claimants of the deceased depositor can access and download the forms without having to visit the concerned bank/branch for obtaining such forms for filing claim with the bank. Yours faithfully, (Rajesh Verma) Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/214 · issued 03 Sep 2013. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
🧰 Tools — save, print, templates & related
Most relevant forBranch Manager — Private Bank / SFBBranch Operations (Accounts / FD / CASA)Teller / Cashier / Customer Service OfficerCompliance TeamPersonal Banker / Branch RM (Portfolio)Marketing / Business Development
🛠 Banker’s toolkit — checklists & reply templates →
Related circulars · Department of Regulation
SFB Pillar 3 Disclosure Norms Aligned with BaselUCB Deposit Rate Disclosure & Uniformity Rules UpdatedLAB Deposit Rate Disclosure & Uniformity Rules TightenedPayments Banks: Interest Rates Must Match Disclosed ScheduleRBI Updates Bulk Deposit Rate Rules and Disclosure Timing
Browse all departments →

💬 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.

Loading comments…
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=8363&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.
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 ↗
—