KYC (Know Your Customer) – Basics
KYC means Know Your Customer. It check is the mandatory process of identifying and verifying the identity of the client when opening an account and periodically over time.
In section 5 (b) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, “Banking” is defined as “accepting, for the purpose of lending and investments, deposits of money from the public, repayable on demand or otherwise, and withdrawable by cheque, draft, order or otherwise”
Definition of Customer for KYC
For the purpose of KYC policy, a ‘Customer’ is defined as
- A person or entity that maintains an account and/or has a business relationship with the bank;
- One on whose behalf the account is maintained (i.e. the beneficial owner);
- Beneficiaries of transactions conducted by professional intermediaries, such as Stock Brokers, Chartered Accountants, Solicitors etc. as permitted under the law, and
- Any person or entity connected with a financial transaction which can pose significant reputational or other risks to the bank, say, a wire transfer or issue of a high value demand draft as a single transaction.
Types of Customers
- Individuals
- Individuals (Joint account)
- Individuals (Minors)
- Executors & Administrators
- Proprietorship/Partnership Firms
- Joint Stock Companies
- Hindu undivided family
- Trusts, Societies & Associations
- Clubs & Self Help Groups
- Government Departments & Municipal Bodies
Banker-Customer Relationship
- On opening of an Account, a banker customer relationship is established.
- An account is a contract between the bank and the customer.
- The banker agrees to provide banking services as per the terms and conditions specified by it and the customer agrees to avail of the service and conduct the account according to the terms and conditions and also the laws of the land and regulations of the banking regulator.
- The legal relationship between a banker and a customer varies with the nature of service rendered by the bank.
Bank and customer have different relationship depending on the kind of service the bank is providing to the customer. Following are the various relationships that may be formed between a customer and the banker based on the products and services availed by the customer:
| Service | Relationship | Relationship |
| Bank | Customer | |
| Loans | Creditor | Debtor |
| Deposits | Debtor | Creditor |
| Pledge of Security | Pledgee | Pledger |
| Collection | Agent | Principal |
| Remittance | Fiduciary Agent | Principal |
| Distribution | Agent | Customer |
| DeMat Account | Agent | Customer |
| Safe Deposit Locker | Lessor | Lessee |
