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For several months, I had been planning on opening a new bank account online exclusively to save some money for my long-due international vacation. Of course, work and life kept getting in the way, and I almost gave up the idea until my tech-savvy neighbour - who had come home for a bit of tea and chit-chat one evening - turned things around and guided me through it.
I was a bit of an old-fashioned person, you see. I preferred doing things the way we did them before the internet. But that day, my millennial neighbour walked me through how online bank account opening works. And - believe it or not - I managed to open my new bank account online by the end of the next day!
Well, to me, discovering the world of online banking was like Alice going down the rabbit hole (see, old-fashioned Lewis Carrol fan here). And I can't wait to spread the word about it. If you, like me, have been wary of banking online, or even if you've just been out of the loop, we can change that today with this step-by-step guide on how to open a new bank account online. Let's get started with the basics!
An online bank account is simply a savings account that you can open and manage online. To understand how it works, we need to take a little trip back in time.
If you are in your 30s or 40s, you may recall a time when you had to pay a visit to your local bank branch to fill out a form manually and open your savings account.
Or, if you're younger, maybe ask your parents about it. They'll tell you about how you had to fill out a deposit slip to deposit funds into your account. And how, when you needed some funds from your account, you had to fill out a withdrawal slip to access your money. All of this in person!
An online bank account eliminates all these cumbersome processes.
You can open your account online today right from the comfort of your home. You can transfer funds, pay your bills, start an FD, make an investment and even pay your taxes without getting off your couch. No more queues, no more waiting, and no more taking half a day off from work (with a pay cut) just to withdraw some cash.
All you need is an internet connection and a smart device, and you're pretty much set. But how exactly does online bank account opening work? Allow me to explain.
India has around 12 public sector banks, 20 private banks, and a growing network of neobanks. The process of opening a new bank account online naturally varies slightly from one entity to another. But, generally speaking, here is how you can open a new bank account online.
With the digital banking revolution truly underway, you can open an online bank account with most banks in India. Take some time to research what your options are and choose a banking partner that you are comfortable with. Here are some factors to check out before making a decision.
If you are planning to open a savings account online, you'll want to maximise the interest earned on your account balance. The higher the rate of interest, the more returns you earn. So, look at the interest rate your preferred banks offer before shortlisting your options.
Banks also levy charges and fees on various things like ATM fees, regular service charges, and overdraft fees. There are also international transaction fees, excess transaction fees, and charges for paper statements in some banks. Factor these into your decision.
Some bank accounts may have a zero balance requirement, while others may require you to have a minimum sum in your account at all times. This could range from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 1,00,000 or higher.
If you fail to maintain the minimum balance as per the terms and conditions, banks will levy a penalty. So, you can choose your bank based on the level of balance you'll be able to maintain.
No matter how high the interest rate or how low the fees are, a bank only makes for a good partner if you can reach out to the team for support. So, check out how easy (or difficult) it is to get in touch with the bank's helpline and find out the quality of their customer support before you make your decision.
Once you've chosen your banking partner, visit their website or download their app (if they have one). You'll generally find the option for a new online bank account opening under the 'Products' section in the app or the website.
Navigate to the relevant section and click on the option to open an account.
In the application form, you may have to enter some basic details like your name, date of birth, email ID, phone number, etc. The exact details required will vary from one bank to another. But most online interfaces are user-friendly and self-explanatory. You can easily navigate through this step without any confusion.
Once you have duly filled in the application form, you'll need to attach soft copies of the documents required. This list may vary slightly from one bank to the next, but broadly speaking, here is what the required paperwork may include -
Some banks may require you to self-attest your documents before submitting them online. Check out the finer details of the online bank account opening process and follow them accurately.
KYC is short for Know Your Customer. It is a mandatory process that banks need to follow before allowing you to open an online account. Basically, they need to verify your identity and ensure that you are who you claim to be. Some banks may have a video KYC requirement as part of the bank account opening process.
If your chosen banking partner has this requirement, a bank official will connect with you over a video call. All you need to do is attend the call and give them the details they ask for, so they can verify your identity. Don't worry about it too much. It's a perfectly safe and common practice.
Once you have completed the KYC process, you will receive the credentials to log into your online bank account. This may take a few hours or a few days, depending on the bank. You can then use these details to log into your online bank account and start banking!
It took my new online bank account one whole day to be activated, but you don't even have to wait that long. If you are a working professional, you can simply open a savings account with Fi in less than 5 minutes!
It's quick and easy, and absolutely hassle-free. Plus, it's a zero balance account - meaning you don't need to maintain a minimum balance ever.
If this sounds like something you're looking for, let me walk you through the steps you need to follow to open an online savings account with Fi.
The Fi app is available on the Google PlayStore and Apple's App Store. So, whatever OS your smartphone has, there's a Fi app for you. Simply download the app onto your phone.
Fi's digital savings account is specifically tailored to meet the needs of working professionals. So, you need to undergo a simple and quick screening process to verify your employment status. This shouldn't take you more than a few minutes.
Once your employment status has been verified, your Fi digital savings account is open and ready to use. All in less than 5 minutes!
With online bank account opening now becoming common, we're truly in the era of having banking at our fingertips. And I, for one, am glad I was able to open a new bank account online in the short span of just one day. You know what that means, right? I can now start saving up for my international vacation!
If you have any such short-term goals, a separate online bank account - perhaps one that gives you a high rate of interest - may be just what you need. Go ahead and open a new bank account online today!
Yes, today, you can certainly open a bank account online in India. All you need is an internet connection and a smart device like a laptop or a smartphone, and you're good to go!
Yes, you can open an online bank account through the bank's website or on their app. You need to fill in the required information, submit the necessary documents and complete the KYC process as needed. That's it! Your bank account will then be open and ready to use.
Today, with the banking sector significantly digitised, most leading banks in India in public and private sectors allow you to open an account online. Neobanks, on the other hand, only allow online account opening since they do not have any physical presence.
If you are opening a zero-balance account, you may be able to open your account without depositing any money right away. However, it's best to check with your bank about their terms and policies regarding this.
