Checkbooks and passbooks of these banks cannot be used from April 1, this change is taking place.

New Delhi, 15 March 2021, Monday

Checks, passbooks and IFSC codes of many banks are going to be changed after the merger of banks in the country. Dena Bank, Vijaya Bank, Corporation Bank, Andhra Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce, United Bank and Allahabad Bank were merged on April 1, 2020. The checkbooks and passbooks of these banks are still being used but will not be used after April 1, 2021. New checkbooks and passbooks will have to be obtained from banks after the merger of the banks.

From April 1, the account numbers of the customers of these banks which were merged with other big banks in the last 2 years will change. Along with the checkbook, the IFSC and MICR codes, branch addresses of such banks will also be changed. The addresses of the banks will be as per the merger with other major banks which has been implemented from 1st April 2019 and 1st April 2020.

Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank of India have been merged into Punjab National Bank. Syndicate Bank has since merged with Canara Bank, Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank have merged with Union Bank of India and Allahabad Bank has merged with Indian Bank.

PNB and Bank of Baroda alerted their customers that the existing checkbooks of OBC, United Bank of India, Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank would be closed from April 1 as they are only valid till March 31, 2021. Even account holders of such merged banks will not be able to use their existing checkbooks and passbooks from April 1.

Account holders should do so

If you have a bank account, you need to update your details such as your mobile number, address, nominee's name, etc. You will need to get a new checkbook and passbook from the bank where the merger took place. To do this, keep your old passbook and checkbook until you get a new checkbook and passbook.

After getting the new check book and passbook, you have to update the various financial investment areas such as mutual fund, trading account, life insurance policy, income tax account, FD or recurring deposit, PF account and other required banking details. If you have an account in Syndicate Bank, you can use your existing checkbook till June 30.