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Why a Bank Locker

One of the safest way to store valuables like your jewellery, important documents and other precious items is safe deposit vaults or bank lockers. There is a risk of these valuables being stolen from residential or office premises. Hence one opens a locker and puts in valuables.

What is a Bank Locker?

A locker is a small, usually narrow storage compartment. They are commonly found in dedicated cabinets, very often in large numbers, in various public places such as locker rooms, workplaces, schools,gyms. They vary in size, purpose, construction, and security.

Bank lockers are relatively safe for a person to store valuables for a period of time. Bank Lockers are small boxes kept in a room that is guarded heavily and has solid iron doors or concrete walls around it. To open the locker a pair of keys are needed,one key is with the bank and the other is with the customer. Both keys have to be used together to open the locker . Both private and public sector banks provide the facility of lockers today. All these banks go by the guidelines of Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The locker facility is also called as safe custody.

Bank Lockers

Bank Lockers

The relationship of the bank and the locker holder is that of a lessor and lessee, or in simple words that of an owner and a tenant. Each customer is charged an annual fee for holding the locker with the bank. The amount depends on various factors such as size of locker, urban or semi urban, public sector or private banks etc.

Size of the Locker

Safe Deposit Lockers are available in various sizes .Based on the needs, a customer can choose the size of his locker.

  • In layman’s language locker sizes are sometimes classified as Small, Medium and Large. But Technically the lockers sizes are called by alphabets A, B. Many banks over variation so you can have locker sizes A1, A2 etc.
  • The lockers sizes start with small-sized ones, often referred to as A-class whose size in inches is generally around 4.5 X 5.875 X 20.75 .
  • The size increases in alphabetical order, so the L/K class are usually the largest. L size locker size is around 15.5 X  19.9375 X 20.875.
  • As the size increases the rent also increases .

Given below are sizes of locker from State Bank of India and Axis Bank and some sizes from Indian Bank Click on the image to enlarge. Indian Bank offers even more sizes such as A1, A2 till L1, which we have captured in this image

Locker sizes ex of SBI Locker, Axis Bank,Indian Bank

Locker sizes ex of SBI Locker, Axis Bank,Indian Bank

Requirements to have a locker

Both private and public sector banks provide the facility of lockers  and are governed by the guidelines of Reserve Bank of India. Some of these guidelines are listed below:

  • Though to avail the locker services one need not have a saving account in the bank .But a bank asks new customers to open a savings account. This is because opening a savings account helps complete the know your customer (KYC) norm. Also, a savings account at the branch makes it easy, for the bank,to collect annual charges.
  • Banks must allot lockers on a first come, first serve basis. If none are available, the bank branch needs to maintain a waiting list and provide the applicant with a waitlist number. It must also inform the customer when it is available. Please note not all bank branches have lockers. It is a first-come-first-served service that has always been in high demand.
  • Bank lockers can be rented on single as well as joint basis. If there are joint holders then all the joint holders have to particularly mention the kind of ownership agreement they are getting into (like either or survivor, former or survivor etc).
  • Nomination facility for a locker is available. In case of death of locker holder (or joint holders) a nominee gets access to the locker by producing death certificate and filing up claim form. Our article Bank Account,Term Deposit,Locker:Paperwork Required For Claim discusses nomination for bank lockers , importance etc in detail.
  • The bank  may ask customer to deposit some amount as security in the beginning for opening a locker, called as Caution MoneyThis may include the rent for locker for a period of 3 years and also an amount for emergencies when the bank has to break open the locker for example if the customer has lost the key. It is not mandatory to do so but most of the banks do ask. There are several complaints how banks have and are taking advantage of the soaring demand for lockers to force customers to invest in investment products like fixed deposits,insurance schemes which are in violation of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) rules.
  • Bank does Risk categorization of locker hirers, mostly as per deposit account of hirers with Bank. Risk categorise are generally High, medium, low,
  • While opening a locker one needs to sign an agreement document, called Memorandum of Letting. It is an agreement between the Bank (called as lessor),who is letting out the locker and Customer (called lessee) hiring the locker regarding operation of the locker. This document is a registered document and attracts stamp duty.  The choice of method of paying stamp duty is largely dependent on the state in which the stamp duty is to be paid and the amount of such stamp duty.  Various methods of paying stamp duty are e-stamping, franking and Stamp paper.

However, even if you agree to the bank’s conditions, you may still not be able to find a desirable locker. This is because getting a bank locker has become difficult, especially in the metros as Banks don’t have too many lockers. And there is no space to provide new ones. But branches in suburbs have higher number of lockers and so do those in smaller cities . It may be worth your while to scout around for new branches opening in your city because in an effort to lure new customers, they may waive the security deposit. You will also be able to get a locker immediately and won’t have to endure an endless wait as is the case with the existing branches.

Leasing of locker, Surrendering the Locker 

  • Locker is typically leased for a term usually from 1 to 3 years.
  • On expiry of the lease period of the locker, the hirer of locker may either get the lease renewed for further period of one / three years or may surrender / vacate the locker.  Vacating of locker by the hirer (Customer) on or before the expiry of lease period is called as Surrendering of Locker.
  • Each bank has different  refund rules. What happens if you surrender the locker mid-term? Will you have to forego the fee or will the bank refund you on a pro-rata basis?So know the refund rules of your locker.

Rent of Locker

  • One needs to pay rent for using the locker (Just like one pays for rented house).
  • Locker charges not only vary across banks but also branches, depending on their location-metro city or semi-urban area, busy commercial area etc. There is a wide disparity in rates between public sector banks and private ones. For instance, the rental prices for a medium-sized locker (F class) in a private bank may go up to Rs 20,000 a year, but the same can be had in a public sector bank for one-sixth the price.
  • The rate also depends on the type of account you have with the bank. For instance, HDFC Bank is willing to waive 50% of the rent if you are a classic customer, that is, your average quarterly balance is Rs 1 lakh.
  • The cheapest lockers are the small-sized ones, often referred to as A-class. The size increases in alphabetical order, so the L/K class are usually the largest and the most expensive lockers.
  • To avoid costly surprises, it’s important to check the fine print. For instance, many banks require a minimum account balance to be maintained, which can be an expensive proposition if you select a bank where the limit is set at Rs 25,000-50,000 a quarter.
  • It is also crucial to know how your bank defines a year while calculating locker rentals. Most banks take the date of agreement as the starting point and the subsequent annual rent will have to be paid on that date. However, some banks have a predefined timeline-it may be set according to the calendar year or fiscal year. It is important to know the pattern in order to pay the rent without defaulting.

Using the locker

Custodian is an officer designated by each branch to be in charge of Safe Deposit Lockers. To open the locker a pair of keys are needed,one key is with the bank  typically with Custodian and the other is with the customer. Both keys have to be used together to open the locker . Some banks ,like IDBI have now started offering 24×7 locker access at select branches , however this facility comes at a cost.

  • Lockers can be operated during the specified timing displayed at the branches. One visits the bank during the locker opening hours with locker key.
  • Meets the custodian and does the necessary paper work example signing the register. Waits if someone else is using the locker.
  • Along with the custodian visits the deposit vault. Custodian fits in the bank key, customer his key and locker opens. Custodian leaves the deposit room. Customer takes out, puts stuff in privacy. Once he is done, he comes out.
  • Please do check for additional charges . Some banks may charge extra if you operate the locker more than a certain number of times, for ex SBI charges for more than 12 times a year.
  • The lockers are to be opened by the customer at least once in 6 months. If the locker is not opened for more than a year then there will be a notice issued to the customer for doing the same. If there is no response from the customer then, the bank has the rights to break open the locker in the presence of police in a legal manner. The same may be applicable in areas where the rent is not paid by the customer.

Operate the locker with a cool mind and utmost patience, and before closing the locker have a look around to ensure no valuable as been left out of the locker. Also, don’t allow anyone inside when you are operating the locker. In fact, going to the locker with close family members like son, daughter, husband or wife is usually good, provided the locker is hired in their name too.

Do keep a written record of your contents in the locker. In case of a theft, at least you will know what was stolen. If you are keeping documents in lockers, it is wise to get them laminated.

Breaking Open of Locker

The locker can be broken open in case of

  • Loss of key, at hirer’s request.
    • If you lose the key,please report immediately .  Usually an application is submitted to Branch Manager. Charges for opening the locker or replacing the lost key and for changing the lock will have to be borne by you. While some banks include the cost in the initial security deposit, some charge it later.
  • Non-payment of locker rent
  • Non- compliance of terms and conditions of lease agreement at the Bank’s discretion like not opening a locker for a period of one year.

Banks can consider opening the locker if it is not operated for a prolonged period, generally more than three years in the case of a customer in the medium-risk category or one year for those in the high-risk category, as per the know your customer(KYC) guidelines. This clause holds true even if the locker owner has been paying his rent regularly and on time, provided the locker agreement clearly mentions this fact. However, the bank has to first ask the customer to give a written explanation for not operating the locker, followed by a notice cancelling the allotment and announcing the opening of the locker

Lockers will be broken open in the presence of the Custodian and one or two outside respectable persons and an inventory of the articles found in the lockers will be prepared duly signed by the persons in whose presence the lockers are broken open.

Responsibility of the bank

The Bank  in their agreement typically declare that bank will not be responsible or liable for the contents kept in the locker by the hirer. In case of theft, burglary or similar unforeseen events, action will be initiated as per law. But  there are enough cases where the courts have backed customers. By establishing that the relationship between the bank and the depositor is not that of landlord and tenant, these landmark judgements allow you to sue your bank for equivalent compensation in case of burglary or if the locker’s contents are damaged by termites, water seepage and the like, barring natural disasters.

  • After a robbery at an Indian Overseas Bank branch in a Chennai suburb in 2012, the police discovered that most bank branches in the city hadn’t installed devices such as security alarms, closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras or burglar alarms, among others.
  • In November 2011, a locker mechanic of a private firm was nabbed with gold worth Rs 20 lakh stolen from the lockers of Andhra Bank in Koritapadu in Guntur city . The bank staff initially rubbished the customer’s claims. But after going through the video evidence, the police found that the lockers were handed over to official mechanics for annual maintenance, and the crime was committed during the period.

So banks in all cases can’t skip their responsibility on flimsy grounds, but it is always wise to tread with care as proving any negligence on the part of the bank is not easy

Alternatives to bank deposit lockers

Are there any alternatives to bank deposit lockers. Yes

Private Lockers

Private companies such as India Safety Vaults (present in Mumbai and Pune) and Navketan Lockers (Hyderabad and Mumbai). Rate card from Navketan Lockers for Locker Type A is given below

Locker Type Rate Plan Rate / Year Total Rent Service Tax @ 12.36% Caution
Deposit
(Refundable)
Total
Amount
Payable
A One Year 3,600.00 3,600.00 445.00 2,500.00 6,545.00
Three Years 2,880.00 8,640.00 1,068.00 2,500.00 12,208.00
Five Years 2,340.00 11,700.00 1,447.00 2,500.00 15,647.00

Comparing Bank Lockers and Company Lockers

Bank Lockers Company Lockers
Accessibility Only during office hours; Sundays closed Open all day and holidays. 
Number of lockers Limited number of lockers per bank; can be added 2,000-4,000 per branch
Cost Annual rental (depends on the size of the locker and from branch to branch), security deposit or fixed deposit.  Security deposit, between three months and three years of advance. No annual rental

Jewellery Insurance

  • There are few standalone jewellery insurance products. such as Axis Bank, Tata AIG’s cover is for people with high net worth.
  • However, one can avail of this cover under a home insurance policy. You need not buy a comprehensive plan that covers the house structure but can instead opt for a contents cover under which there is a jewellery and valuables protection section. The contents section covers accidental loss, damage, burglary and theft of jewellery and other precious items, including jewellery kept in some specified bank lockers. Some also cover jewellery worn in person. There is usually a sub-limit for jewellery. For instance, the maximum cover may be 25 per cent of the total sum insured for contents. This means if the contents cover is for Rs 5 lakh, jewellery worth only Rs 1.25 lakh will be covered.
  • There are policies with a separate all-risk cover section for jewellery and valuables where one can choose a suitable sum insured. The four public sector general insurers-Oriental Insurance, United India Insurance, The New India Assurance and National Insurance-offer such policies.

Some Do’s and Don’ts for Bank Lockers

  • A locker should not be at a lonely place nor should it be at a place with very thick with moving population, like a bus stand, taxi stand, railway station, etc. It should be near your house as you don’t want to cart your valuables across town
  • You also need to keep a written record of your contents in the locker. In case of a theft, at least you will know what was stolen.
  • If you are keeping documents in lockers, it is wise to get them laminated.
  • It also makes sense to operate lockers as in a joint-holding or nomination-based mode. “This ensures that in case of death of the person, the lockers can still be operated or the contents smoothly handed over to the legal heirs

RBI Guidelines Safe Deposit Lockers/Articles in Safe Custody

Related articles:

Should one go for locker? Locker is Private or Public Bank?What has been your experience in getting  a bank locker? Using a bank locker? Any suggestions, ideas?

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