Central Bank of India vs Suryoday Small Finance 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 kids. Suryoday Small Finance Bank does not offer a dedicated children’s account but instead offers minors the option to open a standard savings account as a minor account.

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 Suryoday Small Finance Bank Limited

Suryoday Small Finance Bank does not offer a dedicated children’s account and offers minors the option to open a standard savings account as a minor account. All of the bank’s savings accounts can be opened by a minor under a parent or a guardian. We take a look at the two base variants of the bank’s savings account line-up.

Savings Ujjwal

The account is the most basic of the savings accounts offered by Suryoday.

Features

  • The average monthly balance requirement is Rs. 2,000, though anyone choosing to open an account has to start with an initial deposit of Rs. 3,000
  • Accountholders can choose to keep a fixed deposit of Rs. 10,000 in lieu of the minimum balance
  • The bank offers a higher rate of interest than most other banks for similar slabs of balance. Accounts with balance up to Rs. 1 lakh earn 6.25% per annum and those with balance between Rs. lakh and Rs. 10 lakh earn 7.25%. This is as of March 2019
  • The Savings Ujjwal account comes with a RuPay Classic Secure Chip Debit Card
  • The daily ATM and POS limits is restricted to Rs. 20,000
  • Online money transfers such as RTGS, NEFT, IMPS are chargeable after 3 transactions
  • The bank offers a personal accident insurance cover of Rs. 1 lakh with the account

Savings Aditya

This savings account is ranked one step up the Savings Ujjwal.

Features

  • The account has a minimum average monthly balance of Rs. 5,000 and needs Rs. 7,500 to open the account
  • Accountholders can create and keep an FD of Rs. 25,000 if they want to forego the minimum balance requirements
  • The Savings Aditya account also comes with a RuPay Classic Secure Chip Debit Card
  • The limit on daily ATM and POS transaction is pegged at Rs. 40,000
  • Accountholders get 10 free ATM transactions on the bank’s own ATMs and up to 5 on other bank ATMs
  • The accountholder can access up to 10 free RTGS, NEFT or IMPS payment transfers
  • Like with the Ujjwal account, the Aditya offers a higher rate of interest

Note: Suryoday in its savings account page/tabs for each account clearly mentions that all bank’s savings accounts from Ujjwal to Savings Supreme can be opened on behalf of a minor

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
  • Suryoday Small Finance Bank Website: www.suryodaybank.com
  • Headquarters: Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra
  • Call Centre Number: 1800 266 7711