Fall 2024 Scholarship: Get Up to $10K for Your Master's Abroad!A simple guide to opening your first Bank account
If you are a young college student, newly 18, it is time for you to get your own bank account. A bank account is not just a place to safely stash your money.
More importantly, it enables you to make smooth and safe money transfers and transactions. You also have the opportunity to earn interest and thereby compound your savings or investments.
As a young adult, you will be learning the basics of financial independence and responsibility. Your own bank account can be your first step towards that goal.
Let’s start with the big question.
Why should you get your own first bank account?
1. Financial Independence
The foremost benefit of having a bank account is that it is the first step towards financial independence. As a teenager, your parents probably monitored and supervised all your financial transactions and purchases.
Having your own bank account gives you a lot more discretion and agency over where and how to spend your money.
Having this agency is crucial to your learning financial responsibility. Learning to make your own financial decisions and when to say yes or no to purchase is an important life skill. Being in control of your own bank account teaches you this.
2. Security
A bank account is the most secure way of keeping and handling your money. Unlike cash transactions, bank transactions are secure and often even reversible.
This is because banks take extra steps to ensure that the money is being sent to the right person. You also maintain a paper trail with these transactions.
If you fear you have been a victim of fraud, you can even contact your bank to cancel a cheque or transaction. This lowers the risk of you becoming a victim of fraud or losing your money.
2. Receiving payments & scholarships when you study abroad
If you study abroad with a scholarship, you will most likely need an independent bank account. To receive these scholarships, stipends, or payments from any part-time jobs you undertake, a bank account is necessary.
Having your own bank account means that these payments will come to you directly. Without your own bank account, these monies would have to be routed through a parent or guardian’s account.
A major reason why students take the step of studying abroad is to learn independence. An independent bank account is part of this. As a young adult, it is important to be able to feel in control of yourself. Surely, the financial agency in this regard is important.
What kind of bank account do you need?
1. Savings Account
There are many types of bank accounts but for most personal banking requirements, a savings account is the most appropriate.
A savings account is the most common kind of bank account opened by individuals for personal banking purposes.
There is no upper limit or cap to the amount of money that can be held in a savings account although the number of transactions may have some cap.
While most banks require people with savings accounts to maintain some mandatory minimum balance, this requirement is waived for accounts opened under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana.
Fortunately, accounts opened under this welfare scheme have a limit on the value of deposits made and the number of withdrawals, including ATM withdrawals, which are capped at 4 per month.
2. NRI Account
If you study abroad or plan on taking admitted in a foreign university, an NRI account may be a better option for you.
These bank accounts are for Indian citizens or Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) residing overseas. These accounts provide benefits in terms of currency conversion, transferability of deposits, taxes, etc. There are three main types of NRI accounts:
- Non-Resident External (NRE) Accounts: NRE Accounts hold funds in Indian Rupees (INR). This means these accounts can be used to deposit funds in other currencies which get converted into INR. These accounts can be used as savings accounts for income earned abroad as no tax is levied on the interest generated by these accounts.
- Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO) Accounts: These accounts can be used to deposit funds in both INR and foreign currencies. If you already have an ordinary resident bank account, you can convert it to an NRO account when you move to study abroad. These accounts can also be used to send money from India to overseas. Interest earned on income in an NRO account is liable for TDS (Tax Deducted at Source). This type of account may be the most appropriate first bank account for you if you plan on going to study abroad.
- Foreign Currency Non-Resident (FCNR) Accounts – FCNR Accounts can be opened and maintained in a foreign currency approved by the RBI, including US Dollars, Australian Dollars, Sterling Pound, Euro, etc. These accounts can be used to maintain long-term deposits. The interest earned on deposits in FCRN Accounts is non-taxable.
What are the documents needed for your first bank account?
The two documents that are mandatory to open a bank account in India are an Aadhar card and a PAN card. Aadhar is the foremost single valid proof of address and identity for Indian citizens.
A PAN is a 10-digit unique alphanumeric number used by the Income Tax Department of India to track transactions and payments for tax purposes. These are both needed for KYC requirements.
If you don’t have either of these documents, you need to apply for them first. You can apply for an Aadhar online through the UIDAI website and for your PAN through the NSDL website.
If you have your Aadhar and PAN cards, you can either apply for a bank account online or by visiting your nearest branch.
You will need to fill out the appropriate forms and submit copies of your Aadhar and PAN cards along with two photographs.
Depending on the bank other documents may be required and you should check the bank website or call ahead to confirm.
Conclusion
Once you have submitted the appropriate forms and documentation for KYC, the bank should take a day or two to verify your details or reach out for any clarifications or errors.
Once your documents are verified and your account is validated, you can receive your Bank Passbook, Cheque Book, and Debit Card from your bank.
Your bank will give you a PIN for your debit card which you will be expected to change by selecting a new one through an ATM of the same bank.
It is also a good idea to request internet banking facilities be made available to you, especially if you plan on going to study abroad. You may have to fill out a separate form for this.
With this done, congratulations! You now have your own first bank account! Your first bank account is one of the many first steps you will take as you enter adulthood.
FAQs
Can a minor open their own bank account in India?
Minors in India can open joint bank accounts with their parent or guardian. Some banks like SBI also has provision to allow children over 10 years of age to open a bank account in their sole name.
Can a 15-year-old get an ATM in India?
Depending on the banks, financial companies or credit unions, minors in India can avail themselves of debit card services. For this, their legal guardians or parents can open a joint checking account with them.
What is a zero-balance account?
Many banks allow minors to open a bank account without depositing any money. These accounts are called zero-balance bank accounts.
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