NRI Account- How to Activate a Dormant or Inactive Account

If a bank account is not used for two years, it becomes dormant. The owner of a dormant account cannot use the bank's services if they have not used the account in a long time. So, if a bank account has seen no operations, no credit/debit transactions other than the debiting or crediting of interest, it is considered dormant.

What is an Inactive Account?

If you do not use your savings or current account for more than 12 months, it will be considered inactive.

What is a Dormant Account?

If you do not make any transactions in your savings/current account for more than 24 months, it is considered dormant. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) states that if you do not make transactions such as withdrawing cash from an ATM/branch, transferring funds, paying with cheques, and so on, your savings/current account will become dormant.

Kotak Mahindra Bank

As an NRI customer, you can activate your dormant NRE account by sending an email to [email protected] from your preferred email address on file with our bank. When sending the email, please include a Dormancy Removal request as well as proof of your identity, signature, and address. Please click here to download a request letter.

Because dormant accounts are converted to inactive accounts, you must initiate a debit/credit transaction to fully activate your NRE account.

You can also go to a nearby Kotak Mahindra Bank branch and request that your NRE account be activated. This could take up to three working days from the time you submit your request to us.

ICICI Bank

Inactive Account Activation: Inactive accounts can be activated in the following ways:

• Withdraw or deposit funds into your account using a cheque or an ATM. Transfer funds into the account using Money2India.com.
• Bill Payment

Internet Banking : You can reactivate your inactive account by doing the following:

• Log in to Internet Banking and navigate to Service Requests -> Activation of Inactive/Dormant Accounts ->
• Fill out the form and submit your request.
• Contact our 24-hour Customer Service.
• Please contact us at [email protected].
• In India, go to your nearest branch.
• *Cash deposits are not permitted for NRE accounts. Proof of source of funds is required for INR cheque deposits in NRE accounts.

Dormant Account Activation: You may use any of the following channels to normalise your account (from the dormant stage):

• Send a request for account activation to ICICI Bank Limited, Autumn Estate, 5th Floor, 'A' Wing, Near Mhada, Chandivali, Andheri (E), Mumbai - 400 072. INDIA
• Write to us by logging in to www.icicibank.com and submitting your request through the "Service Request" option in your Internet Banking.
• If you are currently living abroad or in India, please contact us at +91 40 23128925.
• If you happen to be in India, Visit your nearest ICICI Bank branch and present an account-activation letter along with a copy of your passport.

State Bank of India

You can reactivate a dormant NRE account by submitting a re-KYC letter, identification documents, and a mandate to the branch for Rs 1/- debit and credit transactions in the customer's account. "For operationalizing In-operative NRE / NRO account form" can be downloaded at http://bit.ly/SBI-NRI-Form.