Demand Draft Lost? How to Get a Duplicate DD From Your Bank
Demand draft lost in the post or misplaced? Records you need, how to stop payment, the RBI 15-day duplicate DD rule and interest owed if the bank is late.
In this article
"I sent a ₹1.5 lakh demand draft for admission by post, and the college says it never arrived." If this is you, the short fix is: ask the issuing bank to record the draft as lost and stop payment today, collect the DD number, date, amount and counterfoil, and apply for a duplicate with an indemnity bond. RBI expects the bank to issue it within 15 days, and to pay interest if it is late.
A demand draft is a prepaid instrument drawn by the bank on itself, so the money has already left your account. Getting a duplicate is a paperwork exercise, and the records you hold decide how fast it goes.
Records that make a duplicate request easy
Gather these before you go to the branch. The first three are the most important.
| Record | Where you will find it | Why the bank needs it |
|---|---|---|
| DD number, date and amount | Counterfoil, purchase receipt or SMS | To identify and mark the exact instrument |
| Issuing branch and drawee (payable at) branch | Counterfoil or receipt | Duplicate is issued by the issuing branch after checking with the payable branch |
| Payee name | Your application form or receipt | Duplicate must be in the same payee's favour |
| Debit entry in your account | Bank statement or passbook | Proof that you bought it; see how to read a bank statement |
| Courier or speed post receipt and tracking | Courier slip, tracking page | Shows when and how it was lost |
| Payee's confirmation of non-receipt | Email or letter from the college, office or seller | Many banks ask for it; it strengthens your request |
| ID and address proof | Aadhaar, PAN, passport | KYC of the person applying |
Since 15 September 2018, RBI has required banks to print the purchaser's name on the face of demand drafts, pay orders and banker's cheques. That helps the bank match a lost draft to you quickly.
What to do, step by step
Today
- Confirm the draft is really lost. Ask the payee to check with their accounts or dispatch section; drafts often sit unopened for days.
- Inform the issuing bank in writing (branch letter or email to the branch, plus a complaint through net banking or the app). Ask it to mark the DD as lost and issue a "stop payment" or caution to the payable branch. Get an acknowledgement with the date.
- File a police complaint or online lost-article report if your bank asks for it or if the draft was stolen. Many states have online lost-document reporting; the acknowledgement is often enough.
Within a few days
- Submit the duplicate request on the bank's form, with the records above.
- Sign the indemnity bond. This protects the bank if the original is presented later. Banks may ask for stamp paper of a set value and, for larger amounts, a surety; the format and stamp duty vary by bank and state.
- Pay any duplicate DD charge listed in the bank's schedule of charges. Charges differ by bank, so ask at the branch.
- Decide: duplicate or cancellation. If the payee no longer needs a draft (for example they now accept online transfer), ask the bank to cancel the lost draft and credit your account instead.
After 15 days
- Follow up in writing if the duplicate has not been issued. Quote RBI's instruction and ask for interest for the delay.
- Escalate to the bank's grievance redressal officer, and if there is no satisfactory reply within 30 days, to the RBI Ombudsman at cms.rbi.org.in. See bank not resolving your complaint.
What RBI rules say
RBI's instructions (first issued on 9 March 2000 and clarified in November 2006) say:
- Banks should issue a duplicate demand draft within a fortnight of receiving the request.
- For delay beyond that, banks should pay interest at the rate applicable to a fixed deposit of corresponding maturity, as compensation.
- The fortnight applies only when the purchaser or the beneficiary asks; it does not apply to third-party endorsees.
As of October 2026 these remain the reference point for duplicate drafts. Most banks repeat them in their customer compensation or demand draft policy on their website, so check your bank's version for its exact process.
Other rules that matter for a lost draft:
- Validity: demand drafts, like cheques, are valid for three months from the date of issue.
- ₹50,000 and above: RBI requires banks to issue such drafts only by debit to an account or against a cheque, not against cash, so there is always an account trail to prove your purchase.
Worked example: interest for a late duplicate
Asha bought a ₹1,50,000 draft. She submitted her duplicate request with all documents on 1 October. The bank issued the duplicate on 31 October.
| Item | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| RBI fortnight ends | 1 October + 14 days | 15 October |
| Days of delay | 16 to 31 October | 16 days |
| FD rate for that period (illustrative) | Bank's rate for a 15 to 45 day deposit | 5.5% a year |
| Interest for delay | ₹1,50,000 × 5.5% × 16 ÷ 365 | ₹361.64, about ₹362 |
The amount is small, but asking for it in writing usually speeds up the duplicate. Use the actual FD rate card of your bank for the matching period; the FD calculator helps you check the figure.
Ready-to-copy request letter
To,
The Branch Manager, [Bank], [Issuing branch]
Subject: Request for duplicate demand draft – DD No. [number] dated [date]
Dear Sir/Madam,
I purchased demand draft no. [number] dated [date] for ₹[amount],
payable at [city/branch], in favour of [payee], by debit to my account
no. [last 4 digits]. The draft was sent by [courier/post] on [date]
and has not been received by the payee [or: has been lost].
Please mark this draft as lost and stop its payment, and issue a
duplicate draft in favour of the same payee [or: cancel the draft and
credit my account]. I enclose the counterfoil/receipt, ID proof,
[police/lost report acknowledgement], [payee's non-receipt letter] and
the indemnity bond in your format.
As per RBI instructions, I request issue within a fortnight, failing
which interest for the delay at the applicable FD rate.
[Name], [mobile], [date], [signature]
What not to do
- Do not wait for the draft to "turn up". Report it the same day so it is marked and cannot be wrongly paid.
- Do not hand the original counterfoil to anyone other than the bank; keep photocopies.
- Do not pay agents or "DD recovery" services. Only the issuing bank can issue a duplicate.
- Do not share OTPs or account details with callers claiming to be from the bank or the payee's office.
- Do not buy a fresh draft and forget the lost one. Without cancellation, the old amount stays outside your account.
If you are dealing with a returned cheque rather than a draft, see our guide on cheque bounce: what to do.
Key takeaways
- Report a lost demand draft to the issuing bank in writing at once and ask for stop payment.
- Keep the DD number, date, amount, payee, issuing and payable branch, counterfoil and debit entry ready.
- RBI expects a duplicate within 15 days of a request from the purchaser or beneficiary, with FD-rate interest for any delay.
- You can usually choose cancellation and refund instead of a duplicate; both need an indemnity bond.
- Escalate to the grievance officer and then cms.rbi.org.in if the bank delays beyond the fortnight.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a bank take to issue a duplicate demand draft?
RBI has told banks to issue a duplicate demand draft within a fortnight of receiving the request from the purchaser or the beneficiary. If the bank takes longer, it should pay interest for the delay at the fixed deposit rate for the corresponding period.
Who can ask for a duplicate demand draft?
The purchaser who bought the draft or the beneficiary named on it. The 15-day timeline does not apply when the request comes from a third party to whom the draft was endorsed.
What documents are needed for a duplicate DD?
Usually a written request, the DD counterfoil or purchase receipt, details such as DD number, date, amount, payee and issuing branch, ID proof and an indemnity bond. Some banks also ask for a letter from the payee confirming the draft was not received.
Can I cancel a lost demand draft instead of getting a duplicate?
Yes, most banks let the purchaser cancel a lost draft and refund the amount to the account, after the same checks and indemnity. Cancellation charges vary by bank, so check the schedule of charges.
Is a demand draft valid if it is found later?
A demand draft is valid for three months from its date of issue. Once you report it lost, the bank marks it so that the original should not be paid, so tell the bank immediately if it turns up.
This article is for general education and is not personalised financial, tax or legal advice. Rates and rules are as of 26 Oct 2026; confirm current terms with your lender, AMC or a qualified adviser.
