Bank Account Nomination Form: How to Add or Change a Nominee
Why every account and FD needs a nominee, how many you can name now, and how to update it.
By FinMandi Team · Last updated 27 October 2026 · Information only, not legal or tax advice.
Why a nominee matters
If an account holder dies, the nominee is the person the bank pays the balance to without a long legal process. With no nominee, the family may need legal documents such as a succession certificate, which can take months.
What changed: up to four nominees
Under the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, provisions that took effect on 1 November 2025 allow customers to name up to four nominees for deposit accounts, and for articles in safe custody or lockers.
- Simultaneous nomination: you name several people together and fix each person’s share so that the total is 100%.
- Successive nomination: a second nominee steps in if the first has died or cannot claim.
Check with your bank which options it offers for your account type and which form to use. Banks are updating their forms.
How to add or change a nominee
- Find the nomination or “DA1”-style form on your bank’s forms page (names differ by bank), or look for nomination in net banking or the app.
- Fill in the account or FD number, the nominee’s name, relationship, date of birth, address and share (for several nominees).
- If the nominee is a minor, you also name a guardian.
- Sign the form (all joint holders if the account is joint) and submit it, or confirm it online with OTP.
- Keep the acknowledgement and check that your statement or net banking shows the nominee.
Open your bank’s own forms page from our bank forms directory (SBI, HDFC, ICICI, Axis, PNB, Bank of Baroda, Canara, Kotak, IndusInd, Union Bank, IDFC FIRST).
Common mistakes
- Not nominating at all for FDs and lockers, which need their own nomination.
- Shares that do not add up to 100%.
- Not updating the nominee after a marriage, birth or death in the family.
- Telling the nominee nothing. Tell them where the accounts are.
FAQ
Is nominee the same as legal heir?
Not exactly. The nominee receives the money from the bank, but legal heirs may still have a claim under the will or succession law. Treat the nominee as the person who collects, not necessarily the final owner.
Can I change a nominee later?
Yes. Submit a fresh nomination form or change it online. The latest valid nomination applies.
Do I need a nominee for each FD?
Usually yes. Check at the time you open each deposit.
Disclaimer: Rules and forms change, and each bank has its own version. This guide is general information, not tax, legal or banking advice. Confirm the current form and process with your bank before submitting. FinMandi is not affiliated with any bank. Never share your OTP, card PIN or CVV.
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