Update Bank Correspondence Address Different From Permanent

You can keep one address on your bank's records as your permanent address, the one printed on your Aadhaar or passport, and give a different address for letters, cheque books and cards. As of October 2026, RBI's KYC rules let you do this with a self-declaration of your current address, backed where the bank asks by a "deemed" proof such as a recent utility bill, and the bank must verify the new address within two months. You do not need to change your Aadhaar first, and you can do it at any branch.

This guide explains which rule applies to your situation, what to submit and how to avoid the problems that come from a half-updated address.

Permanent address vs correspondence address

Banks usually record two addresses:

• Permanent address: the address on your officially valid document (OVD), such as Aadhaar, passport, driving licence or voter ID. This is what KYC is built on.
• Correspondence or communication address: where the bank sends physical mail, including cheque books, debit cards, PIN mailers, deposit receipts and legal notices.

When the two are the same, nothing more is needed. When you rent in another city for work or study, or have moved but not yet updated your Aadhaar, they differ, and the rules below come into play.

What the rules say (as of October 2026)

RBI consolidated its KYC instructions into the Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Know Your Customer) Directions, 2025 in November 2025, carrying forward the earlier 2016 Master Direction and its amendments. Four provisions matter here:

1. Current address different from Aadhaar. Under the Prevention of Money-laundering (Maintenance of Records) Rules, as amended in November 2019, a customer who gives Aadhaar for KYC can give a self-declaration of a current address that differs from the one in the Aadhaar database.
2. OVD without your updated address. If your OVD does not show your current address, the bank can accept "deemed OVDs" for address proof only. You must then submit an OVD with the current address within three months.
3. Address change during KYC updation. If only your address has changed, the bank takes a self-declaration of the new address and verifies it through positive confirmation within two months.
4. Any branch, and BC outlets. RBI's June 2025 amendment allows KYC updation at any branch of your bank, and lets authorised business correspondents accept a self-declaration where only the address has changed.

Deemed documents accepted for address only

A registered rent agreement is not on this list. Many banks still accept it as supporting evidence with a self-declaration, but practice varies, so ask your branch what it will accept before you go.

Step by step: adding a separate correspondence address

1. Check what the bank has now. Look at your profile in net banking or the app, or your latest statement. Note both the permanent and the communication address.
2. Pick your route.
   • Address changed, Aadhaar not yet updated: self-declaration of current address.
   • Want the bank to record the new address as your KYC address: give an OVD with the new address, or a deemed document now and the OVD within three months.
3. Use an official channel. Most banks offer "Update communication address" or "Change address" under Profile or Service Requests in net banking or the app. Some ask for a supporting document upload. Otherwise, fill the address-change form at any branch with your original ID and a self-attested copy.
4. Get an acknowledgement. Note the service request number and the date. It starts the verification clock.
5. Expect verification. The bank may send a letter, a courier or an agent to the new address. Make sure someone can receive it. If the letter comes back undelivered, the bank may ask for more proof.
6. Re-check after a week or two. Confirm that the new address shows in the profile, and that the old one has not been overwritten if you wanted to keep it as the permanent address.
7. Update linked items. Ask for a fresh cheque book only if the old one printed your address and you need it. Update your address for FDs, lockers and loans held at the same bank if the system treats them separately.

Worked example: counting the deadlines

Priya's Aadhaar shows her family home in Rajkot. She moved to Pune for work and rents a flat there. She submits an address-change request at a Pune branch on 26 October 2026, with a self-declaration of the Pune address and her electricity bill dated 10 October 2026.

If Priya only wants letters to come to Pune and is happy for Rajkot to stay her permanent address, the self-declaration is enough. If she later updates her Aadhaar to the Pune address, she should send the updated Aadhaar to the bank before 26 January 2027 so that both records match.

If Priya also holds a fixed deposit with the same bank, its maturity advice will now go to Pune too. You can model what a deposit earns with our FD calculator.

Common problems and how to fix them

If your registered mobile number also changed with the move, update it first, because most online address requests depend on an OTP. See how to change your mobile number in the bank.

Where to complain

Complaints filed with the Ombudsman from 1 July 2026 fall under the Reserve Bank – Integrated Ombudsman Scheme, 2026. See bank not resolving your complaint for the escalation sequence.

Ready-to-copy request

Subject: Request to update correspondence address – account [last 4 digits]

Dear Sir/Madam,

My permanent address as per my KYC document is [permanent address]. I
currently reside at [current address] and request that this be recorded
as my correspondence/communication address for all letters, cards and
cheque books.

I enclose a self-declaration of my current address [and a supporting
document: utility bill dated __ / other]. I understand the bank will
verify this address in line with RBI's KYC directions.

Please confirm the update in writing with a service request number.

[Name], [customer ID], [registered mobile]

What not to do

• Do not click "KYC update" or "address update" links that arrive by SMS or WhatsApp. Banks do not ask you to update KYC through links from unknown numbers.
• Do not share OTPs, PINs or net banking passwords with anyone who calls to "help with address verification".
• Do not hand over unmasked Aadhaar copies to agents. Give documents only at the branch, through the bank's official app, or to a verified business correspondent, and write the purpose on photocopies.
• Do not leave the old address on file after a move. A card or cheque book delivered to an old address can be misused.
• Do not miss the three-month window if you used a deemed document; the bank may restrict the account until it gets the OVD.

Key takeaways

• Your permanent address can stay as per Aadhaar or passport while you give the bank a separate correspondence address.
• A self-declaration of current address is allowed; deemed documents like a utility bill under two months old support it.
• If you use a deemed document for KYC, submit an OVD with the current address within three months.
• The bank must verify a self-declared new address within two months, and you can update it at any branch.
• Escalate refusals to the grievance officer, then cms.rbi.org.in after 30 days.