The Reserve Bank of India has asked banks to provide doorstep banking facilities to senior citizens above 70 years of age and disabled people by December 2017. The RBI opines that senior citizens, as well as disabled persons, should be able to avail of basic banking facilities from the comfort of their home.

The basic services include pick-up and delivery of cash, chequebooks and demand drafts at their residence. In wake of some incidents where banks discouraged or turned away senior citizens and differently-abled persons from availing banking facilities in branches, banks are advised to make concerted effort to provide basic banking facilities.

RBI in a communication to banks, including small finance and payments banks said they should offer facilities like pick-up of cash and instruments against receipt, delivery of cash against withdrawal from accounts, delivery of demand drafts, submission of Know Your Customer (KYC) documents and Life Certificates at the premises or residence of such customers.

Noting that it is essential to be sensitive to the requirements of senior citizens and the differently-abled, the RBI asked banks to implement the instructions by December end, this year. It also asked banks to ensure that when a Life Certificate is submitted in any branch, including a non-home branch, the same should be updated and uploaded promptly in the CBS (Core Banking Solution) so that senior citizens are not inconvenienced.

Banks also have to update fully KYC compliant accounts into a ‘Senior Citizen Account’ based on the date of birth available in the bank’s records.