Bank-account holders in India can now nominate up to four individuals for eligible deposit accounts. The revised nomination framework allows depositors to choose either simultaneous or successive nominations.
These provisions came into effect on November 1, 2025, under the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025 and the Banking Companies (Nomination) Rules, 2025.
Nomination can make it easier for a bank to settle an account after the depositor’s death. However, a nominee should not automatically be treated as the final legal owner of the money in every situation.
This guide explains the bank account nomination rules for 2026, multiple-nominee options, joint-account rules, minor nominees, online and offline registration, nominee claims and the difference between a nominee and a legal heir.
What Is Bank Account Nomination?
Nomination is a facility through which an account holder identifies one or more individuals who may receive the balance from the bank after the depositor’s death.
The nomination facility is intended to:
- Reduce hardship for family members.
- Help banks identify the person authorised to receive the account balance.
- Simplify the deceased-depositor claim process.
- Reduce the need for additional legal documents in straightforward cases.
- Facilitate quicker transfer of funds after verification.
Nomination is available for eligible deposit accounts maintained in an individual capacity.
The Reserve Bank of India also clarifies that a sole-proprietorship account is treated as the proprietor’s individual account for the nomination facility.
What Changed Under the New Nomination Rules?
Under the revised framework, a depositor can nominate up to four people.
For bank deposit accounts, the customer may choose:
- Simultaneous nomination.
- Successive nomination.
The provisions relating to the improved nomination facility became effective on November 1, 2025.
The rules apply across banks covered by the RBI’s nomination directions, including commercial banks, regional rural banks and eligible co-operative banks.
Customers are not required to nominate four people. They may nominate fewer people based on their preference.
What Is Simultaneous Nomination?
Simultaneous nomination allows a depositor to nominate more than one person and allocate a percentage of the deposit to each nominee.
A maximum of four individuals may be nominated.
The percentages assigned to all nominees must total 100%.
Example
A depositor may register:
- Nominee One: 40%.
- Nominee Two: 30%.
- Nominee Three: 20%.
- Nominee Four: 10%.
The total allocation is 100%.
After the depositor’s death, the bank may settle the eligible account balance among the nominees according to the registered percentages, after completing the required verification.
Important Condition
If one simultaneous nominee dies before receiving the deposit, the nomination for that person’s allocated share becomes ineffective.
The bank must then process that share using the procedure applicable to an account or portion without a valid nominee, subject to the relevant law and claim documents.
The remaining nominees do not necessarily receive the deceased nominee’s share automatically.
What Is Successive Nomination?
Successive nomination allows the depositor to register nominees in a priority order.
Only the first eligible nominee in the registered sequence normally becomes operative.
The next nominee becomes operative if the nominee placed above that person dies before the deposit is received.
Example
The depositor registers:
- Spouse as the first nominee.
- Adult child as the second nominee.
- Sibling as the third nominee.
- Parent as the fourth nominee.
If the first nominee is alive and eligible when the claim is settled, the first nominee receives the amount from the bank.
If the first nominee has died before receiving the deposit, the second nominee becomes operative. The same principle continues through the registered sequence.
Unlike simultaneous nomination, successive nomination does not divide the account balance among all the listed nominees at the same time.
Simultaneous and Successive Nomination Compared
Simultaneous Nomination
- Up to four people may be nominated.
- The deposit is divided by specified percentages.
- All percentages must total 100%.
- Eligible nominees may receive their respective shares.
- Suitable when the depositor wants to allocate the account among several people.
Successive Nomination
- Up to four people may be registered in priority order.
- The first eligible nominee becomes operative.
- A lower-ranked nominee becomes operative only when the nominee above has died before receiving the deposit.
- Suitable when the depositor wants backup nominees.
The depositor should understand the difference before submitting the bank’s nomination form.
Does Every Depositor Have to Add Four Nominees?
No.
The customer may choose to:
- Register one nominee.
- Register two or more nominees within the permitted limit.
- Select simultaneous nomination.
- Select successive nomination.
- Cancel an existing nomination.
- Change nominee details.
- Choose not to register a nominee.
A bank must explain the availability and purpose of nomination at the time of account opening.
However, the RBI states that a bank must not deny or delay the opening of an otherwise eligible account solely because the customer refuses to register a nominee.
The bank may obtain a written declaration when the customer chooses not to use the facility.
Are Existing Nominations Still Valid?
An existing nomination does not become invalid merely because the revised rules introduced multiple nominations.
A properly registered nomination generally continues unless it is:
- Cancelled.
- Replaced.
- Varied by the depositor.
- Rendered ineffective by the nominee’s death.
- Found inconsistent with the applicable law or account records.
Customers who registered a nominee before November 1, 2025 may contact their bank if they want to add more nominees or change to a simultaneous or successive arrangement.
Do not submit a fresh form without confirming whether the bank requires cancellation, variation or a new nomination request.
Which Accounts Can Have a Nominee?
The nomination facility generally applies to eligible deposit accounts held by individuals, such as:
- Savings accounts.
- Current accounts held in an individual capacity.
- Fixed deposits.
- Recurring deposits.
- Term-deposit accounts.
- Sole-proprietorship deposit accounts.
- Eligible joint deposit accounts.
Accounts held in a representative capacity may be subject to different treatment.
Nomination for government savings schemes administered through banks, such as the Public Provident Fund or Senior Citizens’ Savings Scheme, is governed by the rules of the respective scheme.
Customers should use the nomination form prescribed for that specific scheme.
Nomination for Joint Bank Accounts
Joint-account holders can register a nominee, but the nomination must comply with the joint-account mandate and current bank procedure.
Where a nomination is made for a jointly held deposit, all the depositors may be required to make or approve the nomination together.
The RBI’s deceased-customer claim directions clarify that the nominee’s right in a joint deposit account arises only after the death of all the depositors.
Example
A bank account is jointly held by Arun and Beena with their daughter as nominee.
If Arun dies while Beena remains alive, the daughter does not automatically replace Beena as the account holder merely because she is the nominee.
The account’s survivorship instruction and the bank’s joint-account terms determine how Beena can operate or claim the account.
The nominee’s claim ordinarily arises after the death of all joint depositors.
Nomination and Survivorship Clause Are Different
A joint account may contain a survivorship instruction such as:
- Either or Survivor.
- Anyone or Survivor.
- Former or Survivor.
- Latter or Survivor.
A survivorship clause tells the bank how the account may be operated or settled between the surviving joint holders after one holder dies.
A nomination identifies the person who can receive the money after the nomination becomes operative.
The two facilities serve different purposes.
Customers opening a joint account should review both:
- The operating or survivorship instruction.
- The nomination details.
Do not assume that registering a nominee automatically changes the joint-account operating mandate.
Can a Minor Be a Nominee?
A minor may be nominated, subject to the applicable rules.
When registering a minor nominee, the depositor may provide details of an adult authorised to receive the amount on the minor’s behalf if the claim arises while the nominee is still a minor.
The bank may request:
- Minor nominee’s full name.
- Date of birth.
- Relationship with the depositor.
- Guardian or authorised adult’s details.
- Address and identity information.
- Supporting documents required by the bank.
Providing incomplete guardian information can delay settlement of a claim involving a minor nominee.
Can a Nominee Be Changed?
Yes. A depositor can request variation or cancellation of a registered nomination while the deposit account remains active.
A change may be required because of:
- Marriage.
- Divorce.
- Birth of a child.
- Death of an existing nominee.
- Change in family circumstances.
- Incorrect nominee information.
- Change of address.
- Desire to add multiple nominees.
- Change from simultaneous to successive nomination.
- Change in percentage allocation.
For joint accounts, the bank may require the approval or signatures of all relevant account holders.
The latest nomination registered in the bank’s records will normally be used, subject to the applicable rules.
How to Add a Nominee Online
Some banks provide nomination services through internet banking or their official mobile application.
The exact facility and menu names differ between banks.
The general steps may be:
- Sign in to the bank’s official internet-banking website or mobile application.
- Open the account-services or service-request section.
- Select the nomination facility.
- Choose the relevant deposit account.
- Review the existing nomination status.
- Select simultaneous or successive nomination when the option is available.
- Enter the nominee’s name and other required details.
- Enter the percentage allocation for simultaneous nominations.
- Ensure that all shares total 100%.
- Review the information carefully.
- Complete the required OTP or account verification.
- Submit the request.
- Save the acknowledgement or reference number.
Not every bank may provide every nomination service online. A branch visit may be required to register multiple nominees, change an existing nomination or correct certain details.
Use only the bank’s official website or application.
How to Register a Nominee at a Bank Branch
If the facility is unavailable online, visit a bank branch.
The general process is:
- Carry the relevant account information.
- Request the bank’s current nomination form.
- Select the required nomination option.
- Enter the nominee details clearly.
- Enter percentage shares when using simultaneous nomination.
- Enter the correct priority order for successive nomination.
- Provide minor-nominee and guardian details when applicable.
- Obtain the signatures of all required joint holders.
- Submit the completed form to the bank.
- Ask for a written acknowledgement.
- Check the updated nomination status after processing.
Do not sign a blank nomination form or leave percentage and priority fields incomplete.
When Should the Bank Provide an Acknowledgement?
Under the RBI’s 2025 nomination directions, banks must have a system for acknowledging properly completed nomination, cancellation and variation forms.
The acknowledgement should be provided within three working days of receiving the request, whether or not the customer specifically asks for it.
If the request does not comply with the applicable rules, the bank should communicate the rejection and its reasons in writing within three working days.
Keep the acknowledgement safely with other account records.
How to Confirm That Nomination Is Registered
After submitting the request, check:
- Passbook.
- Account statement.
- Fixed-deposit receipt.
- Internet-banking nomination section.
- Official confirmation from the bank.
The RBI directs banks to record the status using the words “Nomination Registered” on the passbook, account statement or term-deposit receipt.
The nominee’s name should also be indicated in applicable account records.
If the updated status does not appear, contact the bank and quote the acknowledgement or service-request number.
Details Required for Nomination
Depending on the bank and account, the nomination request may ask for:
- Depositor’s name.
- Account number.
- Account type.
- Nominee’s full name.
- Nominee’s date of birth.
- Nominee’s address.
- Relationship with the depositor.
- Mobile number or contact details.
- Percentage of entitlement.
- Priority order.
- Guardian details for a minor nominee.
- Signatures of the depositor or joint depositors.
- Witness information when required by the form.
Enter the nominee’s name exactly as it appears on their identity documents.
Incorrect spelling or outdated information can create avoidable verification difficulties.
Is a Nominee the Same as a Legal Heir?
Not necessarily.
A nominee is the person authorised to receive the money from the bank after completing the applicable claim process.
RBI’s deceased-customer directions state that payment to the nominee can provide a valid discharge of the bank’s liability. However, the bank must make it clear that the nominee receives the amount as a trustee of the legal heirs.
Payment to the nominee does not automatically eliminate a lawful claim that another person may have against the nominee.
Final succession rights may depend on:
- A valid Will.
- Applicable succession law.
- Personal law.
- Court orders.
- Claims from legal heirs.
- The individual facts of the case.
Nomination simplifies payment by the bank, but it should not be used as a substitute for estate planning or qualified legal advice.
Documents Required for a Nominee Claim
For a straightforward deceased-depositor claim with a valid nominee or survivorship clause, the bank generally requires:
- Completed claim form.
- Death certificate of the depositor.
- Officially valid identity and address document of the nominee or survivor.
The bank must verify:
- The claimant’s identity.
- The depositor’s death.
- The validity of the nomination.
- Whether any court order prevents payment.
- Whether all required documents have been submitted.
In a valid nomination case without discrepancy or court restriction, the bank should not ordinarily insist on documents such as a succession certificate, probate or letter of administration merely to discharge its liability.
Additional documents may be required when there is a dispute, discrepancy, minor nominee, foreign death certificate or other special circumstance.
How to Submit a Deceased-Depositor Claim
The RBI’s revised directions allow a claimant to lodge the claim at any branch of the bank and obtain an acknowledgement.
The bank must:
- Make standard claim forms available at branches.
- Provide forms and document requirements on its website.
- Acknowledge receipt of the claim.
- Identify incomplete or incorrect documents.
- Confirm when all required documents have been received.
A bank may also provide an online claim-submission and tracking facility.
If original-document verification is required after an online submission, the claimant should be allowed to complete it at any branch.
Time Limit for Settling a Nominee Claim
Under the RBI’s Settlement of Claims in respect of Deceased Customers of Banks Directions, 2025, a bank must settle a deposit-account claim within 15 calendar days from receiving all required documents.
The timeline does not necessarily start from the date the claimant first contacts the bank if required documents remain incomplete.
If a delay attributable to the bank occurs, the bank must communicate the reason.
The RBI directions also provide for compensation at a rate of not less than the prevailing Bank Rate plus four percent per annum on the amount due for the period of bank-attributable delay.
The claimant should retain:
- Claim acknowledgement.
- Confirmation of complete documents.
- Reference numbers.
- Copies of correspondence.
- Date of document submission.
What Happens If There Is No Nominee?
The absence of a nominee does not mean that the bank can keep the money.
Legal heirs or other eligible claimants can submit a deceased-depositor claim, but the process may require additional documentation.
Under the revised RBI directions, banks must provide a simplified procedure for eligible undisputed claims without a nomination or survivorship clause.
The standard threshold is:
- Up to ₹15 lakh for a commercial bank.
- Up to ₹5 lakh for a co-operative bank.
- A higher threshold if fixed by the bank.
The simplified procedure is subject to conditions, including:
- No registered nominee or applicable survivorship clause.
- No Will.
- No competing claim.
- No known court order preventing payment.
Documents may include a claim form, death certificate, claimant identity documents, indemnity, no-objection letters and legal-heir information.
Claims involving a Will, dispute or amount above the applicable threshold may require additional legal documentation.
What If the Bank Refuses or Delays Nomination?
First submit a written complaint through the bank’s official grievance-redressal system.
Include:
- Account details with sensitive numbers masked when possible.
- Date of submission.
- Nomination-request reference.
- Copy of acknowledgement.
- Description of the problem.
- Rejection communication, when available.
- The resolution requested.
If the bank does not resolve the complaint satisfactorily within the applicable complaint period, the customer may use the official RBI Complaint Management System where the complaint is eligible under the RBI Integrated Ombudsman Scheme.
The Ombudsman process does not guarantee that every complaint will be accepted or decided in favour of the customer.
Nomination for Bank Lockers
The multiple-nomination framework also applies to eligible safe-deposit lockers and articles kept in safe custody, but the permitted structure differs from deposit accounts.
For lockers and articles kept in safe custody, only successive nomination is permitted.
This means nominees are registered in priority order rather than receiving percentage shares simultaneously.
Locker access after the hirer’s death also requires identity verification, death documentation and preparation of an inventory under the applicable bank procedure.
Customers should use the specific form prescribed for lockers or safe-custody articles.
Privacy and Fraud-Prevention Tips
Nomination and deceased-account claims involve personal and financial information.
Follow these precautions:
- Use only the bank’s official website, application or branch.
- Never share OTPs, PINs or internet-banking passwords.
- Do not submit claim documents through unknown WhatsApp links.
- Check nominee names and dates of birth carefully.
- Keep the nomination acknowledgement secure.
- Do not post death certificates or account statements publicly.
- Avoid agents promising guaranteed or priority claim settlement.
- Verify calls by contacting the bank through its official number.
- Review nomination after important family changes.
- Inform trusted family members that a nomination has been registered.
- Do not include passwords or ATM PINs in personal estate records.
A bank does not require an account holder to transfer money to an individual or agent to activate nomination.
Common Nomination Mistakes
Avoid the following errors:
- Assuming an old nomination has been updated automatically.
- Entering percentages that do not total 100%.
- Confusing nominee priority with percentage allocation.
- Providing an incorrect nominee date of birth.
- Failing to appoint an adult for a minor nominee.
- Assuming a joint-account nominee can claim after only one holder dies.
- Treating a nominee as the final legal heir in every case.
- Not collecting an acknowledgement.
- Using an outdated bank form.
- Leaving a deceased nominee registered without reviewing the account.
- Assuming a survivorship clause and nomination are the same.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nominees can be added to a bank account?
A depositor can nominate up to four individuals under the revised nomination framework.
When did the new rules become effective?
The multiple-nomination provisions became effective on November 1, 2025.
Can the deposit be divided among four nominees?
Yes. Under simultaneous nomination, percentage shares can be assigned to up to four nominees. The total must equal 100%.
Can backup nominees be registered?
Yes. Successive nomination allows nominees to be registered in priority order.
Is it compulsory to add four nominees?
No. Customers can nominate fewer people or choose not to use the nomination facility.
Can a bank refuse to open an account without a nominee?
The RBI states that an otherwise eligible account must not be denied or delayed solely because the customer declines nomination.
Can a minor be nominated?
Yes, subject to the applicable requirements. Details of an adult authorised to receive the money on behalf of the minor may be required.
Does the nominee become the legal owner of the money?
Not automatically in every case. The nominee receives payment from the bank as a trustee of the legal heirs, and lawful succession claims may continue to apply.
Can a nominee be changed later?
Yes. A depositor may request cancellation or variation of a nomination while the account remains active.
Can joint-account holders add a nominee?
Yes, subject to the joint-account rules and signatures required by the bank. The nominee’s right normally arises only after the death of all joint depositors.
How quickly must the bank settle a completed claim?
A deposit-account claim should be settled within 15 calendar days after the bank receives all required documents, subject to verification and any legal restrictions.
Official References
- RBI Nomination Facility Directions, 2025
- RBI Settlement of Deceased-Customer Claims Directions, 2025
- Government Information on Multiple Bank Nominees
- RBI Complaint Management System
- Reserve Bank of India
Last reviewed: August 30, 2026.
Disclaimer: DIGIT KERALA is an independent information website and is not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India, Ministry of Finance, any bank or any government organisation. This article provides general informational content and does not constitute legal, financial, succession or estate-planning advice. Nomination facilities, forms, online availability, documents and claim procedures may differ according to the account, bank records and applicable law. Always verify the latest requirements with the concerned bank and official RBI sources.