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Content takes us through the Safe deposit vault systems in India and rules of RBI on these systems. The features of bank locker systems, charges, rules, advantages and recent developments in the facility are mentioned in the content.

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Bank Locker in India

Having certain valuables like gold, diamonds and important documents at home can make our daily lives insecure, as guarding these valuables will command primary importance at home. A well shielded location, where these valuables can be stored, will definitely relieve us to some extent.
 
Safe deposit vault systems:-
Bank lockers are relatively safe for a person to store his/her valuables for a period of time. The lockers are built to be safeand well equipped with alarms and other alerting devices. These lockers are available with many banks in India and each bank has specific branches where they have these lockers. The locker is just like a cupboard that is made of metal and has a door that can be locked by various means (key, coded number etc).
 
Bank locker rules:-
Both private and public sector banks provide the facility of lockers today. All these banks go by the guidelines of Reserve Bank of India. Some of these guidelines are listed below:
  • Public sector banks may collect a sum as deposit from the customer for hiring locker. It is not mandatory to do so. But the interest on this deposit amount can be taken by bank as rent for using the locker facility.
  • The KYC process is given importance when a customer wishes to use the locker facility. This is done as a part of safety since there are incidents where explosives were stored in bank lockers.
  • The lockers are to be opened by the customer at least once in 6 months. If the locker is not opened for more than a year then there will be a notice issued to the customer for doing the same. If there is no response from the customer then, the bank has the rights to break open the locker in the presence of police in a legal manner. The same may be applicable in areas where the rent is not paid by the customer. 
Safe deposit vaults features:-
The locker facility is also called as ‘safe custody’ and to hire this locker with a bank in India, the person has to be over 18 years of age. Some banks may also require that the person should hold an account with the bank to avail this facility.

The lockers are available in different sizes and based on the needs, a customer can choose the size of his locker. The customer may also have to deposit some amount as security in the beginning. This may include the rent for locker for a period (say 3 years) and also an amount for emergencies when the bank has to break open the locker (say, if the customer has lost the key).

Nomination and/or joint ownership of a locker has become a mandatory priority while hiring a locker. The bank specifies the conditions where the customer who is hiring the locker will be given an option to mention a nominee for his locker. If there are joint holders then all the joint holders have to particularly mention the kind of ownership agreement they are getting into (like either or survivor, former or survivor etc).
 
The customer will get an acknowledgement if there is any security deposit made in the beginning when the locker is hired. The bank also provides a document where the bank states the details of the locker allotted to customers. This document is called the ‘memorandum of letting’ and this is provided after the locker is hired by the customer.
 
Developments and advantages of bank locker:-
In the presence of private banks in the market, the competition in upgrading the technology and service in locker facility has also increased. Recently one of the private banks came up with an idea where the customer could use the locker at any time of the day and any day of a week. So a customer need not hold on to his valuable jewels and wait for the business hours of a bank to place it back in his locker.
 
The rent towards locker facility is very less when compared to the value of its content. The rent is to be paid on annual basis and if we consider the price hike in gold or silver, the rent that is provided seems to be reasonable.


  • Bharat M.Shah:
    Rent for locker is taken for annual basis and operate for only once in a month,before it was unlimited, Locker is used for keeping ornaments,document and valuable things.Ornaments used for marriage function,festival time and parties. So it is very low time frame for used.Suggestion: It should be unlimited as before. There is no guide line for RBI? Also Bank asked for unlimited amount of deposit for locker. Please also apply some guide line.Bank of Baroda And SBI has apply their own rule?
    17-Nov-2015 10:27 PM
  • ravi k. saini:
    few official says lockers are curse bcoz people store jewelry metals there as money gets block, but the question arises money is already blocked in that particular nation if imported, & is boon if mined........
    07-Apr-2013 02:02 AM
    • Williamkah: I really enjoy the forum topic. Really Cool. Strife
      27-May-2016 11:36 PM
  • ANINDITA MAJUMDER:
    I HAVE LOST MY SBI LOCKER KEYS BEFORE TWO MONTHS. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT CAN I DO TO GET THE NEW KEY AT EARLY AT POSSIBLE. I ALREADY COMPLAINED IN POLICE STATION. I DEPOSITED THE REQUEST LETTER FOR NEW KEY AND ALL THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AT OUR SBI BRANCH (ENTALLY-KOLKATA) . PLEASE TELL ME WHAT CAN I DO NEXT?
    22-Feb-2013 11:14 PM
  • SWATHI:
    What are operating hours of Bank Lockers ?
    21-Dec-2012 08:11 PM
  • raju shah:
    terms of locker priority very bad in axis/idbi & kotak bank they told to investments of Rs.minimum 25000/- TO 100000/- by purchase insurance policy.on deposit they are not ready to provide these priority. dcb bank having good terms for the lockers priority they told to keep deposit amount =Rs 3 year's rent as a security deposit & 1 rent in advance payment.
    21-Dec-2012 08:13 AM
  • Kumar:
    what are the operating hours of bank lockers? can anyone please help me with an answer?
    18-Dec-2012 03:48 PM
  • sidheswar:
    What are operating hours of Bank Lockers ?
    15-Dec-2012 11:07 PM
  • rajesh:
    i like to open gold keeping locker in bank please help me to get good bank in Chennai.
    30-Jul-2012 06:56 PM
  • arvinder:
    Hi
    What are the guidelines for starting a safety locker business in India?
    22-Jul-2012 01:19 PM
  • naveen:
    pls get me info on all bank locker charges
    20-Jun-2012 08:56 PM
  • Renu:
    Sir
    Are there any guidelines from RBI on Photography inside a bank safety deposit locker room?
    If possible, can you give me reference document?

    Thank you
    Warm Regards
    13-Jun-2012 11:05 AM