Introduction of paperless KYC(eKYC) in Post Offices - SB Order 01/2025

No. 25-01/2018-FS-CBS 

Government of India 

Ministry of Communications 

Department of Posts (F.S. Division)

SB Order No. 01/2025

Dak Bhawan, New Delhi - 110001

Date: 01.01.2025

To
All Head of Circles / Regions

Subject: Introduction of paperless KYC (e-KYC) process and Post Office Savings Bank (POSB) Account opening & Transactions through Aadhaar Biometric Authentication - Regarding.

***

Madam/Sir,

As a major initiative, it has been decided by competent authority to introduce paperless KYC process and POSB account opening and transactions through Aadhaar Authentication basis (e-KYC). The e-KYC based account opening is proposed to be implemented in phased manner. Accordingly, it has been decided that onboarding of new customers (Creation of Customer Information File (CIF)) and opening of Single & Individual Type Post Office Savings Account (POSA) in Departmental Post Offices through Aadhaar based e-KYC process are done in Phase-I and necessary changes have been made in Finacle-CBS.

The following new Finacle menus are introduced.

S.No.	Menu	Purpose
1.	ECCRC	Creation of CIF through Aadhaar Authentication (e-KYC CIF creation) and changing the existing CIF to e-KYC CIF through Re-KYC process
2.	ECMRC	Modification of CIF through Aadhaar Authentication (e-KYC CIF modification)

Changes in the following menus have been made.

S.No.	Menu	Change in brief
1.	CASBAO	Provision for opening of Single - Individual (Adult) type POSA through Aadhaar authentication using e-KYC CIF
2.	CASBAM	Provision for Modification in e-KYC based POSA through Aadhaar Authentication
3. 4.	CTM CXFER	Option for Transaction in POSA through Aadhaar Authentication and through Pay-in-Slip or Withdrawal Form (Paper-based)
5.	CICD	System will show the masked Aadhaar number and reference number for the e-KYC CIFs

3.CIF of the Customers who are willing to provide the consent for Aadhaar e-KYC shall be created on Aadhaar Biometric Authentication basis. In such case the following details will be fetched from Central Identities Data Repository (CIDR) of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).

• Name of the Customer
• C/o Name (Father/Husband's Name)
• Date of Birth
• Gender
• Address with Pin code

The above fetched data cannot be edited. However, if C/o Name (Father/Husband's Name) is not received, option is available to edit the same. If any other data is not fetched or fetched partially in case of any of the customer, such customer's CIF will not be created as e- KYC CIF and the customer should be requested to update the Aadhaar with correct information for performing Aadhaar authenticated transactions in the POSB Accounts. Otherwise, such customers CIF may be created following the existing process. Any modification in the e-KYC CIF shall be only on Aadhaar Authentication basis and as such without the presence of the customer, no modification in e-KYC CIF is allowed. Aadhaar authenticated CIF related modifications require no verification by the checker in Finacle.

4.Deposits and Withdrawals (Credits and Debits) from the POSA linked with e-KYC CIF shall be allowed either on Aadhaar Authentication basis or paper-basis (voucher basis). When any deposit is made by person other than depositor, it will be processed on paper-basis (pay-in-slip shall be collected). The existing process shall be followed for all the paper-based (voucher based) transactions.

5.Changes related to other POSB schemes and improvements in the e-KYC process are yet to be made in Finacle. Till such changes are made, it is proposed to obtain the consent of the customers in physical form for Aadhaar e-KYC along with the specimen signature of the depositors and upload the signature in Finacle. Further, account opening form with minimum information shall also be obtained. The approved specimens of the Consent form and Account Opening Form (SB-eKYC-1 & SB-eKYC-AOF) are attached herewith.

6.No voucher (pay-in-slip) shall be collected for any deposit transaction irrespective of transaction amount and for the withdrawal transactions amounting to ₹ 5,000/- or less, when transaction is performed on Aadhaar Authentication basis.

7. Aadhaar Authenticated Transactions will directly be posted in the Finacle ledgers and require no verification by the checker.

8.A separate report of all the Aadhaar Authenticated Transactions "EKYC Long Book Detailed Report" shall be available in the Reports Menu (HFINRPT).

9.A detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is attached herewith.

10. In Phase I, only Single Type POSA including Basic Savings Account can be opened on Aadhaar Authentication basis. For opening of all other types of POSA and other schemes accounts, e-KYC CIF may be created and accounts shall be opened in Finacle as per the existing process. Besides, all other operations like Account Closure, Transfer of Accounts etc. shall be performed in Finacle as per the existing process on submission of applications concerned.

11. It should be ensured that in any record/document/application like AOF etc, if the Aadhaar Number is required to be written on such document, it should be ensured that only masked Aadhaar Number is written, in the form of XXXX-XXXX-

If any document contains the unmasked Aadhaar, Postmaster should ensure that first eight digits of the Aadhaar number are masked using black ink pen or sketch or by any available means.

12. Though the presence of depositor is not mandatory when the accounts are opened through SAS agents and MPKBY agents, they may be encouraged to make the customers presence in the post office at the time of opening of account, to perform e-KYC due diligence.

13.All the post offices and CBS-CPCs should ensure that the Aadhaar Number is masked in all the existing documents like AOF, KYC Form etc. containing the Aadhaar Number including the copy of the Aadhaar obtained.

14.Circles should ensure that paperless KYC due diligence is performed for all the new customers and existing account holders for ease of KYC compliance and other benefits to the customers and Department.

15.eKYC functionality has been rolled out in 12 Head Post Offices and 2 Sub Post Offices in various circles on pilot basis w.e.f. 26.11.2024. The same will be operational pan India w.e.f. 06.01.2025.

16.It is requested to circulate these instructions to all post offices for information and guidance.

This is issued with the approval of Competent Authority.

Encl: Detailed SOP

Yours faithfully

(Gourav Jain)

Assistant Director General (FS-II)

asd

Download SB Order 01/2025 in PDF from CEPT