Central Bank of India vs Indian Bank: Children’s Savings Accounts

Central Bank of India has the Cent Balbhavishya deposit account for kids. This is a deposit account and the bank offers its standard savings account to children for regular transactions. In addition, Central Bank offers recurring and fixed deposits for children. Indian Bank provides the IB Smart Kid SB Account for children and probably its standard savings account jointly with a parent or guardian.

Children’s Savings Accounts from Central Bank of India

The bank has a children-only deposit account called Cent Balbhavishya and a standard savings account that can be opened jointly with an adult or in their own name by kids above 12 years of age. It also offers its standard recurring and fixed deposits for children through joint accounts.

Cent Balbhavishya

The deposit account was conceived with the intention of cultivating saving habits among children.

Features

  • Any child up to the age of 12 years can open the account jointly with a parent or a guardian
  • The minimum deposit needed to open the account is Rs. 50 for rural and semi-urban areas and Rs. 100 for urban areas and metros
  • The bank requires at least one deposit in the account every month with total amount in account for each half-year being at least Rs. 500 (rural and semi-urban) or Rs. 1,000 (urban and metros)
  • No withdrawals are permitted until the child reaches the age of 18 years, unless it is to make a fixed deposit
  • Accordingly, cheque books are issued only when the child reaches 18 years
  • Any excess amount in the account above Rs, 10,000 may be put into a fixed deposit for a period of 6 months to 10 years
  • Central Bank of India will pay an additional interest of 0.5% on any fixed deposit for the child that is created from the funds in the Cent Balbhavishya account. The standard rates will apply from the time the child attains the age of majority

Home Saving Safe Accounts

This is the standard savings account of the bank.

Features

  • It can be opened by a minor jointly with an adult if she is below 12 years of age or by the minor herself if she is over 12 years and can read and write and operate the account
  • The minimum amount needed to open the Home Saving Safe Account is Rs. 250 for rural branches, Rs. 500 for semi-urban branches and Rs. 1,000 for urban and metro branches
  • The bank website mentions that a birth certificate from the Gram Panchayat, Notified Area Committee or Municipal Corporation will suffice as ID proof, though it is likely that with the spread of Aadhaar, an Aadhaar card or an Aadhaar enrolment number may be required

Children’s Savings Accounts from Indian Bank

The bank offers the IB Smart Kid SB Account for children and in all likelihood, its savings account also under the parent’s or guardian’s name as done by most banks though information on that is not clearly available in the website.

IB Smart Kid SB Account

The bank offers the IB Smart Kid SB Account for children who are only 1 day old to those below 18 years of age.

Features

  • The bank mandates a minimum average monthly balance of Rs. 100 for accounts without chequebooks and Rs. 250 for those that have chequebooks
  • Kids above 10 years are eligible to have their own debit card provided the parent or guardian agrees to the issue of the card
  • The child also gets access to the online account if the parent or guardian provides her consent
  • Interest is credited quarterly in the months of January, April, July and October

Reference Facts

  • Central Bank of India Website: www.centralbankofindia.co.in and www.centralbank.net.in (net banking)
  • Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
  • Call Centre Toll-Free Number (24 hours): 1800 22 1911
  • Indian Bank Website: www.indianbank.in and www.indianbank.net.in (net banking)
  • Headquarters: Chennai, Tamil Nadu
  • Call Centre Number (24 Hours): 1800 425 00 000, 1800 425 4422