Home › Circulars › RBI/2013-14/636

KYC Address Proof Simplified for Urban Co-op Banks

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet

Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/636 · issued 10 Jun 2014 · ~2 min read

Quick answerUCBs can now accept a single proof of address (current or permanent) for account opening or periodic KYC updates. If the address changes, customers must submit fresh proof within six months. For non-local addresses, a declaration of local correspondence address suffices, verified via positive confirmation.

The rule, in the simplest words

Customers need to show only ONE proof of address (where they live now or their permanent home) when opening an account or updating their details.
If a customer's address changes, they must give the bank a new proof of address within 6 months.
If the address on the proof is not where the customer actually lives, the bank can take a written promise of the local address for letters and calls, and check it by sending a letter or calling.
If the local address changes, the customer must tell the bank within 2 weeks.

How it plays out — a real example

A KYC & compliance officer in Indore helps a migrant worker from Bihar open a savings account. The worker shows his Bihar address on his Aadhaar card, so the officer takes a written declaration of his current Indore room address, then verifies it by calling the worker's mobile phone to confirm he received the bank's welcome letter.

What changed

RBI simplified address proof requirements for UCBs: customers need only one document (current or permanent) instead of both. If the address changes, fresh proof must be submitted within six months. For non-local addresses, a declaration of local correspondence address is enough, verified through positive confirmation like letters or calls.

What it means for you

This reduces documentation burden for migrant workers and transferred employees, easing account opening. UCBs must update their KYC policies to reflect these changes and ensure strict adherence. The move balances customer convenience with AML/CFT compliance, but banks must verify correspondence addresses via positive confirmation.

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

Update your KYC policy to accept a single proof of address (current or permanent) for account opening and periodic updates.
Implement a process for customers to submit fresh address proof within six months of any change.
For non-local addresses, obtain a declaration of local correspondence address and verify it via positive confirmation (e.g., letters, calls, visits).
Ensure the Principal Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular to the respective RBI Regional Office.

Who it affects

All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs), Customers, especially migrant workers and transferred employees, Principal Officers of UCBs

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

Decoded by BankPulse 2026-06-18 09:22 IST
Status change: withdrawn 11 Jul 2026, 02:13 IST

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

Can a customer use a permanent address proof even if they live elsewhere?

Yes, customers can submit either current or permanent address proof. If the proof is not the local address, they must provide a declaration of the local correspondence address, which the bank verifies via positive confirmation.

What happens if a customer's address changes after account opening?

They must submit fresh proof of address to the branch within six months of the change. For correspondence address changes, they must inform the bank within two weeks.

Do UCBs need to revise their KYC policy for this?

Yes, UCBs must revise their KYC policy in line with these instructions and ensure strict adherence. The Principal Officer must also acknowledge receipt of the circular to the RBI Regional Office.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI

RBI/2013-14/636
 UBD.BPD (PCB) Cir. No. 69 /14.01.062/2013-14
 June 10, 2014
 The Chief Executive Officer
 All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks
 Madam / Dear Sir,
 Know Your Customer (KYC) Norms/Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Standards/ Combating of Financing of Terrorism (CFT) /Obligation of banks under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 – Clarification on Proof of Address - Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs)
 Please refer to paragraph 2.4 (e), paragraph 2.5 (vii) (a & b) and (xi) and Annex I of Reserve Bank of India Master Circular on Know Your Customer (KYC) Norms/Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Standards/Combating of Financing of Terrorism (CFT)/ Obligations under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, issued vide UBD.BPD.(PCB).MC.No.16/12.05.001/2013-14 dated July 1, 2013 regarding requirement of ‘proof of address’ while opening a bank account by individuals.
 2. Reserve Bank of India has been receiving representations/references from various quarters’ especially migrant workers, transferred employees etc regarding problems faced in submitting a proof of current/ permanent address while opening a bank account. The matter has since been examined in the light of amendment to the Prevention of Money Laundering Rules (Maintenance of Records), 2005, and accordingly it has been decided to simplify the requirement of submission of ‘proof of address’ as follows:
 Henceforth, customers may submit only one documentary proof of address (either current or permanent) while opening a bank account or while undergoing periodic updation. In case the address mentioned as per ‘proof of address’ undergoes a change, fresh proof of address may be submitted to the branch within a period of six months.
 In case the proof of address furnished by the customer is not the local address or address where the customer is currently residing, the UCB may take a declaration of the local address on which all correspondence will be made by them with the customer. No proof is required to be submitted for such address for the purpose of correspondence. This address may be verified by the bank through ‘positive confirmation’ such as acknowledgment of receipt of (i) letters, cheque books, ATM card, (ii) telephonic conversation, (iii) visits etc. In the event of change in this address due to relocation or any other reason/s, customers may intimate the new address for correspondence to the UCB within two weeks of such a change.
 3. UCBs may revise their KYC policy in the light of the above instructions and ensure strict adherence to the same.
 4. The Principal Officer should acknowledge receipt of this circular to our Regional Office concerned
 Yours faithfully,
 (P.K. Arora)
 General Manager

Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/636 · issued 10 Jun 2014. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.

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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=8935&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.