Why go to the bank? Let the bank come to you. The concept of doorstep banking is based on this very premise. In fact, with hectic schedules and time constraints, value of time is being increasingly felt and this is believed to the increasing the use of doorstep banking in India as well as in some other parts of the world, including the US.

And seeing the opportunities galore, banks of all hues – ranging from HSBC to ABN Amro and UTI Bank to DCB, and even public sector banks such as State Bank and Central Bank of India – are jumping on the bandwagon with their latest offerings.

Banks can pick up cash and cheques for individuals and corporate customers. They can also deliver cash against cheques received across the counter to corporate’s and government departments. Where banks do employ agents, they are taking responsibility for their agents actions.

Bankers say that doorstep banking can complement internet banking and further reduce pressure on branches.

The scope of home banking includes other services as well ranging from courier pick-ups to opening a new account and even getting due date reminder alerts.


RBI issues guidelines

In 2007, The Reserve Bank of India permitted banks to deliver cash at the customer’s doorstep on request received over phone or Internet.

At the time, it had been decided to permit banks to deliver cash and drafts at the doorstep of customers either against cheques received at the counter or requests received through any secure convenient channel such as phone or Internet banking.

Earlier, the facility of doorstep delivery of cash/draft was available only to corporate customers including public sector undertakings and departments of Central and state governments. The central bank has allowed bankers to fix their own cash limit for “doorstep” banking and also clarified that the customer cannot claim any right for the service.

The RBI has allowed banks to deliver cash/draft either through their own employee or an agent. It has also asked the banks to train their agents to identify forged and mutilated notes to prevent misuse of the facility. Bankers have been given the freedom to fix their own service charges for offering doorstep services.

As per the guidelines, banks are required to issue acknowledgement receipts and credit the cash collected from the customer on the same day or the next working day.

The guidelines, however do not permit banks to issue demand drafts against cash received from the consumer’s doorstep. Banks have been allowed to issue drafts on the basis of requisition in writing or on receipt of cheque.

The RBI had in February allowed banks to pick up cash and other instruments from residential or official premises of all customers, including individuals. The central bank has also asked the bankers to review the doorstep banking scheme on a half-yearly basis in the first year of its operations and annually thereafter.

The RBI has asked banks to constitute an appropriate grievance redressal machinery for redressing complaints on the services being rendered by their agents.


Debit and credit card transactions

Thanks to doorstep banking several organisations have started letting retailers carry a credit card swipe machine to a customer’s doorstep so that they can pay with a swipe of card. This, a number of people say is the ideal way to carry out transactions, given the amount sent by the RBI every year in printing notes. The Reserve Bank of India and the Centre are currently in talks to make plastic money transactions more common, so that the annual budget used in printing currency notes is considerably reduced.


Benefits of doorstep banking

  • No queuing at the branch, bank at your doorstep

  • Dedicated counter agencies for cheque pick-up

  • Dedicated CIT agents for cash pick up & delivery secured by a comprehensive insurance cover

  • Multiple verifications and identification process to ensure security

  • Reduced risk of carrying large sum of cash to or from the branch

  • To help identification, the list or agency personnel is shared with you

  • To confirm identification, you can check photo the id proof of agency personnel