SBP waives succession certificate conditions

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has waived the condition of obtaining the succession certificate from legal heirs in respect of unclaimed deposit refund of deceased account holders/beneficiaries of instrument of Rs 100,000 and below.

According to CPD Circular Letter No. 1 of 2012, issued to the presidents/chief executives of all banks/development finance institutions (DFIs), it has been decided that all banks/DFIs can initiate and submit refund claims cases of the deceased account holders/beneficiaries of instrument of Rs 100,000 and below to SBP without obtaining the succession certificate, if they have examined
the refund claim and satisfied themselves about the genuineness of
the legal heirs.

This decision has been taken to facilitate legal heirs of deceased account holder/beneficiary of instrument in obtaining petty amount claims, without going into cumbersome process of obtaining succession certificates.

For the purpose, the banks/DFIs will obtain indemnity bond on appropriate value of stamp paper from the legal heirs of the deceased
account holders/ beneficiaries of instrument along with two personal
guarantees.

This will also be accompanied by application from all the legal heirs and copies of CNICs and death certificate of account holder/beneficiary of instrument. The indemnity bond has to be invariably signed by all the legal heirs.

Further, the banks/ DFIs will also indemnify SBP on Rs 100 non-judicial stamp paper regarding any risk/ loss and legal cost in the matter, the Circular Letter added.

The banks/ DFIs shall continue to obtain succession certificates from the legal heirs of the deceased account holders/ beneficiaries of instrument in all unclaimed deposit refund cases of above Rs 100,000
as usual. (APP)