A nominee is a person authorised to receive the money available in a bank account after the account holder’s death. Registering a nominee helps the bank settle the account without requiring a complicated claim process.
A bank account holder can add a nominee while opening the account or register one later. An existing nomination can also be changed or cancelled during the account holder’s lifetime.
India’s revised nomination rules allow customers to register up to four nominees for eligible deposit accounts. However, the process and availability of online nomination services can differ between banks.
What Is a Nominee in a Bank Account?
A nominee is an individual selected by the account holder to receive the balance from the bank after the account holder’s death.
Nomination is available for different types of bank deposits, including:
- Savings accounts
- Current accounts held in an eligible individual capacity
- Fixed deposits
- Recurring deposits
- Certain sole-proprietorship deposit accounts
The nomination facility is also available for safe deposit lockers and articles kept in safe custody, although different rules apply to these facilities.
Nomination is generally made for deposits held by individuals. For example, SBI states that nomination is not available for an HUF account because it is held in a representative capacity rather than an individual capacity.
Why Is It Important to Add a Nominee?
A nomination gives the bank clear instructions about whom it should pay after the account holder’s death.
Without a nomination, the legal heirs or claimants may have to submit additional documents to prove their claim. These may include a legal-heir certificate, indemnity, declarations from other heirs or succession-related documents, depending on the amount, circumstances and bank policy.
When a valid nominee is registered, the bank can normally settle the balance after confirming the nominee’s identity, the account holder’s death and the absence of a restraining court order.
How to Check Whether a Nominee Is Registered
You can check the nomination status through the following methods.
Check your passbook or account statement
Some banks mention whether a nomination is registered in the passbook, fixed-deposit receipt or account statement. The nominee’s complete details may not be displayed for privacy reasons.
Look for terms such as:
- Nomination registered
- Nominee available
- Nominee name
- Nomination reference
Check through internet banking
Log in to your bank’s official internet banking service and open the account-service or nomination section.
Depending on the bank, you may be able to:
- Check nomination status
- View nominee details
- Register a nominee
- Change or cancel a nomination
For example, SBI provides an “Online Nomination” option under its internet banking services for eligible accounts.
Check through mobile banking
Some banks provide nominee details under options such as “Account Services,” “Service Requests” or “Manage Nominee.”
The exact path differs between banking applications.
Visit or contact the bank
If nominee information is unavailable online, visit the bank or contact its official customer-care service. The bank may ask you to verify your identity before providing nomination information.
How to Add a Nominee Online
Online nomination is available only when the bank supports it for your account type.
The general process is:
- Log in to the bank’s official mobile application or internet banking website.
- Open the account-services section.
- Select “Nomination,” “Manage Nominee” or a similar option.
- Choose the account for which you want to register a nominee.
- Enter the nominee’s required details.
- Select the type of nomination if the bank provides multiple-nominee options.
- Verify the information carefully.
- Confirm the request using the bank’s authentication method.
- Save the acknowledgement or reference number.
The nominee information requested may include:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Relationship with the account holder
- Address
- Share in percentage, where applicable
- Guardian details if the nominee is a minor
Do not use links received through unknown emails or messages. Open the bank’s official application or type its official website address directly.
How to Add a Nominee at a Bank Branch
If online nomination is unavailable, you can register it through a branch.
Follow these steps:
- Visit the branch specified by your bank.
- Ask for the applicable nomination form.
- Enter the account and nominee details.
- Choose simultaneous or successive nomination, where applicable.
- Specify each nominee’s share if using simultaneous nomination.
- Sign the form according to the account’s operating instructions.
- Submit it to the bank.
- Collect a stamped acknowledgement.
A bank may ask you to submit the form at the home branch, depending on its procedure. SBI, for example, currently directs customers using its branch process to submit the completed nomination form to the home branch.
How to Change an Existing Nominee
An account holder can change the nominee during their lifetime.
You may be able to do this through internet banking, mobile banking or a branch. Follow the process provided by your bank and submit a fresh nomination or variation request.
Before submitting it, check:
- Whether the existing nomination will be replaced
- Whether all account holders must approve the change
- Whether the new nominee’s details are correct
- Whether percentage shares total 100%
- Whether guardian information is required for a minor nominee
Keep the bank’s confirmation after the change is registered.
How to Cancel a Bank Account Nomination
A nomination can also be cancelled without immediately registering another nominee.
Use the cancellation facility available through your bank’s digital service or submit the prescribed cancellation form at the branch.
After cancellation, check the updated account records. If you still want someone to receive the balance through the nomination process, register a new nomination instead of leaving the account without one.
How Many Nominees Can Be Added?
The Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025 and the corresponding nomination rules introduced the facility to nominate up to four individuals. The revised provisions took effect on November 1, 2025.
For deposit accounts, the account holder can choose either:
- Simultaneous nomination
- Successive nomination
The two options work differently.
What Is Simultaneous Nomination?
Simultaneous nomination allows up to four nominees to receive specified portions of the deposit.
The account holder must mention the percentage assigned to each nominee. The nomination must cover the entire deposit, so the combined shares should account for 100% of the amount.
For example, an account holder could divide the deposit among eligible nominees in different percentages. The customer must decide the proportions and clearly state them in the nomination.
If one nominee dies before receiving the deposit, the nomination for that nominee’s portion becomes ineffective. That portion will be treated as if no nomination had been made for it.
What Is Successive Nomination?
Successive nomination places nominees in an order of priority.
Only one nomination becomes effective at a time:
- The first nominee has priority if that person survives the account holder.
- The second nominee becomes effective only if the first nominee has died.
- A nominee lower in the list becomes effective only after all nominees placed above that person have died.
If no priority is separately stated, the order in which the names appear is treated as the order of nomination.
Both simultaneous and successive nominations are available for eligible deposit accounts. For lockers and articles kept in safe custody, successive nomination applies.
Can a Minor Be Added as a Nominee?
A minor can be named as a nominee. In such a case, the account holder should provide the details of a person who is legally competent to receive the amount on behalf of the minor if the account holder dies while the nominee is still underage.
Provide the minor’s date of birth and the guardian’s required information accurately.
Nomination Rules for Joint Bank Accounts
A nomination can be registered for an eligible joint deposit account. The account holders must follow the signing and operating instructions applicable to that account.
The nominee’s right in a joint deposit account arises only after the death of all the depositors. If one joint holder dies while another remains alive, the account’s survivorship mandate and operating terms determine how the bank handles the balance.
Nomination and survivorship instructions such as “Either or Survivor” are related but separate arrangements.
Is a Nominee the Legal Owner of the Money?
Not necessarily.
Payment to a valid nominee releases the bank from its liability, but the nominee receives the money as a trustee for the legal heirs. Receiving the balance from the bank does not remove a legal heir’s lawful claim against the nominee.
The final ownership of the money is determined by the applicable succession law and a valid will, where one exists.
Therefore, a nominee helps the bank transfer the money, but nomination should not be treated as a replacement for proper estate planning.
What Happens If There Is No Nominee?
If the account holder dies without registering a nominee and there is no applicable survivorship arrangement, the claimant or legal heirs must follow the bank’s deceased-account claim procedure.
The required documents depend on factors such as:
- Amount in the account
- Whether the deceased left a will
- Number of legal heirs
- Whether the claim is disputed
- Bank’s approved threshold and claim policy
RBI requires banks to follow a simplified procedure for eligible claims below prescribed thresholds. More complex or disputed claims may require succession-related documents or a court order.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Entering an incorrect nominee name or date of birth
- Failing to update a nominee’s address
- Not naming a guardian for a minor nominee
- Assuming the nominee automatically becomes the legal owner
- Forgetting to update nomination after a major family change
- Assigning percentages that do not cover the entire deposit
- Confusing a joint holder with a nominee
- Failing to collect an acknowledgement from the bank
Review the nomination details whenever your financial or family circumstances change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add a nominee after opening a bank account?
Yes. You can register a nominee after the account has been opened by using the facility provided by your bank.
Can I add a nominee online?
Some banks provide online nomination through mobile or internet banking. Availability depends on the bank and account type.
Can I change my nominee later?
Yes. An account holder can change or cancel a nomination during their lifetime.
Can I add more than one nominee?
Under the revised rules, up to four individuals can be nominated for eligible deposit accounts through simultaneous or successive nomination.
Can nominees receive different shares?
Yes. Under simultaneous nomination, the account holder can specify each nominee’s percentage. The nomination must cover the entire deposit.
Can a minor be a nominee?
Yes. Guardian details should be provided for receiving the money on behalf of the minor when required.
Does a nominee become the legal owner of the bank balance?
Not automatically. The nominee receives the amount from the bank as a trustee for the legal heirs. Succession rights continue to apply.
Can a nominee withdraw money while the account holder is alive?
No. Nomination becomes relevant after the account holder’s death. It does not give the nominee the right to operate the account during the account holder’s lifetime.
Conclusion
Adding a nominee can make the settlement of a bank account easier after the account holder’s death. Customers can check, register, change or cancel a nomination through the bank’s available digital services or branch process.
Under the revised rules, eligible deposit accounts can have up to four nominees through simultaneous or successive nomination. However, a nominee is not automatically the final legal owner of the money. Customers should keep their nomination details updated and ensure they are consistent with their broader succession and estate plans.
