Last Reviewed: September 2026 | Includes RBI 2023 mandatory nomination rule and DA1/DA2 form process
RBI made nominee registration mandatory for all savings accounts from January 2023. Yet millions of accounts still carry an outdated nominee. The person your father added in 2010 may no longer be appropriate. Changing it takes one branch visit and two forms — DA1 and DA2 — and costs nothing., when you get married, after divorce, or when you wish to nominate a different family member. All methods to change nominee are covered below — letter format, DA1/DA2 forms, online process, FD nominee change, and how NRI customers in UAE and Gulf can change nominee from abroad.
RBI Mandatory Nomination Rule 2023-2026 — What You Must Know
- RBI made nomination mandatory for all savings bank accounts from January 1, 2023
- Banks are required to send annual reminders to account holders without nominees
- Accounts without nominees flagged in bank records — may face restrictions on new services
- If you have not added a nominee yet — do it now using DA1 form at your branch or via net banking
- Nomination is separate from Will — nominee receives money first but is legally a trustee for legal heirs
- You can nominate only ONE person per savings account — multiple nominees allowed for FD accounts
Nominee Change Letter Format 1 — General (Death of Existing Nominee)
To,
The Branch Manager,
[Bank Name],
[Branch Name and Address]
Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]
Subject: Request to Change Nominee — Account No. [XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX]
Dear Sir/Madam,
I, [Your Full Name], hold a Savings Bank Account bearing Account Number [XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX] at your branch.
The existing nominee on my account is [Previous Nominee Name], who unfortunately passed away on [Date of Death]. I am enclosing the death certificate of the previous nominee.
I hereby request you to cancel the existing nomination and register a new nominee with the following details:
- New Nominee Full Name: [Full Name]
- Relationship with Account Holder: [Son / Daughter / Spouse / Father / Mother / Sibling]
- Date of Birth of Nominee: [DD/MM/YYYY]
- Address of Nominee: [Full Address]
- PAN of Nominee (if available): [PAN Number]
[If nominee is a minor — add: As the nominee is a minor, I appoint [Guardian Name], [Relationship] residing at [Guardian Address] as the guardian to receive the account amount on behalf of the minor nominee in the event of my death during the minority of the nominee.]
I am enclosing the completed DA2 Form (Nomination Form) along with this letter and a self-attested copy of my Aadhaar card for verification.
Kindly update the nomination records at the earliest and confirm the same.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
[Signature]
[Full Name]
[Account Number]
[Registered Mobile]
[Date]
Nominee Change Letter Format 2 — Voluntary Change (Marriage / Change of Mind)
To,
The Branch Manager,
[Bank Name], [Branch]
Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]
Subject: Request to Change Nominee — Account No. [XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX]
Dear Sir/Madam,
I, [Your Full Name], hold Account No. [XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX] at your branch. I wish to change the existing nominee on my account.
Existing Nominee: [Previous Nominee Name], [Relationship]
Reason for Change: [Marriage / Divorce / Change in family circumstances / Personal preference]
I hereby request cancellation of the existing nomination and registration of the following new nominee:
- New Nominee Name: [Full Name]
- Relationship: [Spouse / Son / Daughter / Father / Mother]
- Date of Birth: [DD/MM/YYYY]
- Address: [Full Address]
Enclosed: Completed DA2 Form, self-attested Aadhaar copy.
Yours faithfully,
[Signature] [Name] [Account Number] [Date]
DA1 and DA2 Forms — What They Are and When to Use
| Form | Purpose | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| DA1 | Cancellation of existing nomination | When removing or replacing current nominee |
| DA2 | Fresh nomination / new nominee registration | When adding nominee for first time OR replacing old nominee |
| DA3 | Nomination for safety locker | For bank locker nominee changes |
Note: Most banks process both DA1 (cancellation) and DA2 (new nomination) together in one visit. Download forms from your bank website or get from branch counter. Submit both signed forms together with nominee change letter and ID proof.
How to Change Nominee Online — Bank-wise 2026
SBI Nominee Change Online (YONO / Net Banking)
- Login to onlinesbi.sbi
- Go to My Accounts and Profile
- Click Profile then Nominee Details
- Click Update Nominee
- Enter Profile Password to verify
- Fill new nominee details — name, relationship, date of birth, address
- Submit — confirmation SMS sent to registered mobile
HDFC Bank Nominee Change Online
- Login to HDFC NetBanking
- Go to Accounts then Nomination
- Click Update Nomination
- Fill new nominee details and submit
- Confirmation sent to registered email and mobile
ICICI Bank Nominee Change Online
- Login to ICICI iMobile or Net Banking
- Go to Service Requests
- Select Update Nomination
- Enter new nominee details and verify with OTP
Federal Bank Nominee Change — Kerala Customers
- Login to FedNet at fednetbank.com
- Go to Service Requests or Profile
- Select Nominee Update
- Fill new nominee details and submit
Nominee Change for Fixed Deposit (FD) 2026
- FD nomination is separate from savings account nomination — must be done independently
- Submit DA2 form at branch specifying the FD account number
- Online FD nominee change available at HDFC, ICICI, Axis Bank via net banking
- For Post Office FD — visit post office with Form 1 (nomination) and original FD receipt
- Senior Citizen FD nominee change — submit at any branch with medical certificate if unable to visit
- FD nominee receives the maturity amount directly without court or legal process
Nominee Change from UAE/Gulf — NRI Customers 2026
- NRI customers in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait can change bank account nominee by sending signed DA1 and DA2 forms along with nominee change letter by registered post or courier to home branch in Kerala or India
- Documents must be self-attested or attested by Indian Consulate in UAE / UAE Notary Public
- Alternatively — authorise a trusted family member in Kerala with Power of Attorney to submit forms at branch on your behalf
- SBI YONO app and Federal Bank FedNet allow online nominee update from UAE without visiting branch
- NRE and NRO account nominee change follows same process — you can nominate a resident Indian (family in Kerala) as nominee for your NRE account
- A non-resident can also be made a nominee for resident accounts — amount credited to their NRO account
Who Can Be a Nominee for Bank Account in India?
- Any individual — family member, friend, or relative
- Minor (below 18) — but a guardian must be named to receive funds until nominee turns 18
- NRI — can be nominee for resident Indian accounts
- Cannot nominate: Trust, Society, Company, HUF, or partnership firm
- Joint account — all holders must sign nomination form
- Only ONE nominee per savings account — multiple nominees allowed per FD
Frequently Asked Questions — Nominee Change in Bank Account 2026
How to change nominee in bank account in India in 2026?
Change nominee by submitting a signed nominee change letter along with DA1 form to cancel old nominee and DA2 form for new nomination at your home branch. Online nominee change is available at SBI via onlinesbi.sbi, HDFC via net banking, and ICICI via iMobile app. No charge for nominee change at any bank.
What are DA1 and DA2 forms for nominee change?
DA1 is the form to cancel an existing nomination. DA2 is the form to register a fresh nomination or new nominee. Submit both forms together at your home branch when changing nominee. Download from your bank website or get from branch counter. Both forms are free at all Indian banks.
Can I change bank nominee online without visiting branch?
Yes. SBI allows nominee change via onlinesbi.sbi under My Accounts, Profile, Nominee Details. HDFC Bank allows via NetBanking under Accounts, Nomination. ICICI Bank via iMobile or net banking under Service Requests. Federal Bank via FedNet. Not all banks support online nominee change — check your bank website first.
Is nominee mandatory for bank account in India in 2026?
Yes. RBI made nomination mandatory for all savings bank accounts from January 1, 2023. Banks send annual reminders to accounts without nominees. If you have not added a nominee yet submit DA2 form at your branch or update via net banking immediately.
Can NRI customers in UAE change bank account nominee from abroad?
Yes. NRI customers in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and Gulf countries can change nominee by sending signed DA1 and DA2 forms with a nominee change letter by registered post to home branch in India. Alternatively use SBI YONO or HDFC net banking for online nominee change from UAE. Or authorise a family member in Kerala with Power of Attorney to submit at branch.
Can I nominate a minor as bank account nominee?
Yes. You can nominate a minor child as nominee but must also name a guardian who will receive funds on behalf of the minor. The guardian is usually a parent or close family member. Mention guardian name, relationship, and address in the DA2 nomination form.
What documents are required to change nominee in bank account?
Documents required — completed DA2 form with new nominee details, nominee change request letter signed by account holder, self-attested Aadhaar or PAN copy, and death certificate of previous nominee if changing due to nominee death. Joint account holders must all sign the forms. No fee is charged at any bank.
How is nominee different from legal heir for bank account?
Nominee receives bank account funds first after account holder death without any legal process. However nominee is legally a trustee and must distribute funds to legal heirs as per succession law or Will. A nominee is not necessarily the legal heir — they are just the person designated to receive funds from the bank initially.
