What is a Demat Account?
I got an email last week from someone asking about opening a demat account, and in the SBI and IDFC thread you might have noticed that there are several people who don’t have demat accounts, but will have to open one soon because nowadays you need one even to invest in these bond issues.
Let’s start with what a Demat account is, and then we can move on to the several options currently available in India.
My grandpa used to have a black briefcase where he stored all his physical share certificates.
Eventually he dematerialized all his shares and moved them to an electronic briefcase, which is how he described his Demat account, and I think this is quite apt to understand the concept.
A Demat account is like a brief case where you store your shares and bonds electronically.
In India there are two Depositories – NSDL and CSDL – and you can think of these depositories as banks that hold your shares and bonds in electronic form.
A regular investor can’t deal with a depository directly, and you have to deal with their agents which are called Depository Participants (DPs).
There are hundreds of DPs in India, and you can open a demat account with one that suits you in terms of price and convenience. Normally, people open a Demat and a trading account with the same institution as it makes transactions cheaper, and is more convenient to get started as well.
So you could have a trading account and a DP account with SBI or ICICI Direct. It is in fact better to have trading and DP account with the same organization because in those cases you are waived off the DP transaction fees.
Effectively, you are using an agent in the form of a depository participant to avail the services of a depository which are storing your shares and bonds electronically.
There are hundreds of DPs in India, and NSDL provides a very comprehensive list of DPs along with their fees here and here (this data might not be up to date though).
Partial List of Depository Participants in India
If you clicked through the above links to the entire list of DPs then you’ll notice that there are a large number of DPs in India, so for this post I’m trying to create a list which has got some of the better known DP names with only their annual maintenance charges covered.
There are several other charges, but including all of them here will make comparison difficult. I have included a link to the source in this table so you can go check the details there. Since these prices are relatively low – you should think about convenience also, and see if your bank offers demat services, and if you can open one there.
Name | Annual Maintenance Charge | Detailed Charges |
SBI | Rs. 400
Rs. 350 for customers receiving statements by e-mail |
Link |
ICICI Bank | Rs. 500
Rs. 450 for customers receiving statements by e-mail |
Link |
HDFC Bank | Rs. 750 for less than 10 transactions
Rs. 500 for 11 – 25 transactions Rs. 300 for greater than 25 transactions |
Link |
Citibank | Rs. 250 | Link |
HSBC | Rs. 750 | Link |
Sharekhan | Rs. 75 per quarter (300 annually)
Deposit of Rs. 500 |
Link |
Axis Bank | Rs. 500 p.a. for customers authorizing Bank to debit DP charges from bank account maintained with Axis Bank, and 2,500 for others. | Link |
Karur Vysya Bank | Rs. 250 per annum | Link |
Sharekhan | Rs. 300 under two plans, and Rs. 500 under another | Link |
Bank of Baroda | Rs. 350 per annum | Link |
How to open a Demat account?
Once you decide where you want to open your Demat account – contact their representatives, and they will get you started.
You will need the following documentation in order to open a Demat account, so keep this handy while contacting the DP.
Proof of Identity: This includes PAN card, driver’s license, passport, voter card etc.
Proof of Address: This includes the above documents and bank passbooks, identity cards issued by Centre or State governments etc.
Passport size photo
Pan card copy
You will need the following details while opening the demat account:
- Name of account holder
- Mailing address
- Bank account details
- Guardian details for minors
- Nomination declarations
- Standing instructions
When you contact the DP – their agent will let you know if they need any specific documentation, or if you need answers to any other specific questions.
It used to be that only equity investors cared about having a demat account, but with a lot of bond issues coming out in only demat form – I think more and more investors will need to open a demat account, and if you don’t already have one, then do think about spending this four or five hundred bucks per year to take advantage of electronic stock and bond holding.
This post should get you started on what a Demat account is, how and where you can open one, as well as the documents required to open it. Please leave a comment if you have any questions or other feedback.
Hi Manshu,
All the requests are very informative,
Now i m thinking to open Demat acc & Trading acc with either SBI or SHAREKhan
1. Do i need both demat acc & trading acc to invest in mutual funds, or nighter of them.
2. If i invest in stocks,while opening demat acc& trad acc what all charges i should be checking to avoid or reduced brokerage as much as possible (the one hint i learnt so far is to have both the acc with same DPs or company )
3. And based on 2 question reply i should be able to decide where i have to open my acc SBI or SHAREKHAN
4. Currently i m in India so if i move abroad in future which would be convenient SBI SHAREKHAN or ICICI (currently i hold saving +salary acc in SBI & ICICI)
5. I would like to learn trading with paper work, could you pls guide how do i start that ? Like some ex some lost of companies and what i need to study about them and where i will get the reliable info about that companies etc…
Thanks
Please mail me on jatin_kh@hotmail.com for more details , India Infoline limited is a good company to start ur trading, 09268372023
i want to invest in mutual fund, but don’t know anythink, how to start what is the procedure to open demat account, and in which bank i can open demat account. and one more, to open demat account, is there need saving account in the same bank… kindly guide me…
Dear Sir,If any quairy then please inform to me,because I can’t see your mobile number.
Thanks
Modan Mohan Chatterjee
mb: 9804056240
hi now i want to open a demat acnt but i want to know the intial deposit amount guys can u help me
HI,
I am assistant manager in AMRAPALI AADYA TRADING CO.,anyone interested in opening a demat and trading account with AMRAPALI,which is a trusted brand in the market,please contact 9804056240
hi
i am working in a online share trading co. named as sharekhan ltd. anybody interested in opening a demat account contact me in 7278933078
dear sir
Again one more clari fication. my self and my brother jointly bought some funds.
1.icici prudential value discovery .regular plan-growth.
2.franklin india prima plus-growth
3.birla sunlife india generation next.growth.
4.birla sunlife mnc fund growth.
5.hdfc midcap oppurtunities fund -growth
6.dsp black rock stragetic bond fund -growth.
7.franklin india tax shield.growth.
8.tata equity oppurtunities fund plan A-GROWTH.
SIR, PLEASE ADVICE ALL THESE ARE GOOD FOR 2TO 4 YEARS INVESTMENTS. THANKING YOU
VAKKIL SATHEESH KUMAR
dear sir
Through hsbc wealth management i opened a demat account.but the mutual funds there are very limited white listed. suppose if i like to buy funds from icici or hdfc mutual funds can i use the same demat account or i have to pay any charges or hsbc would not allow please advice me.
Hi manshu sir, thanks for giveing me such a useful information about demat a/c now I know what is demat a/c & how it work &how will I use it thanks sir
Also please suggest me how will I start to invest money in share of companies
Thnx dear.and i want to know what is the minimum rate of any share.
sir, can you say which one is more more beneficial NSDL or CSDL?
I want to open demet account plz suggest me where to open
please provide me your contact detail on hemanttiwa@gmail.com
please help to open demat.
Is the sharekhan very good for open demat a/c?
Which is best to open demat account? and what do i do after create demat account?
Hi Shiv, Currently many mutual funds are coming up with close ended equity growth schemes? What is your take on such schemes?
Sir I hav demat a/c of SBI ,I don’t know how to do traiding. Pls help me
Dear Mansu,
How are you doing, Need small information on Share.
My relative given little reliance infra share as gift and its transferred on my name.
How many days it will take to credit into my demat account..? and when can I sell.
Thank you in advance!!
Thanks & Regards,
Sankar
Dear Hemant,
How are you doing, Need small information on Share.
My relative given little reliance infra share as gift and its transferred on my name.
How many days it will take to credit into my demat account..? and when can I sell.
Thank you in advance!!
Thanks & Regards,
Sankar
Hi
I am an NRI and has funds in HDFC NRO account from sale of my property in India. I would like to buy tax free bonds in India out of those funds. I am travelling to India for 1 week only. Can I open a DEMAT and trading account within a week and transfer funds from NRO account and but bonds?
Being NRI, PIS(portfolio investment scheme) account is compulsory to open trading & demat account in India. As you said you are keen interested to buy Tax free bonds. As for as current yield of tax free bond are showing around 7% to 7.30% which is not attrective rate for NRI.
Nowdays banks offer NRE deposit rate around 9.0-9.5% whis is also tax free. If all the papers will be ok we can open your account within a weak. Provide me your details on hemanttiwa@gmail.com to guide you in breif. If you are looking to invest money in Indian equity market(Share Market) Please inform us to +91-8097011135.
please call if you wish to open demat & trading account anywhere in India. 8097011135
Hi Mansu,
I wasnoticing the stock market for a long period and now I’ve decided to invest in stock market. So I was searching for the information regarded to the opening of demat and trading account.
I am very glad that your article been very helpful.
I would like to know more about stock market related information.
Thanks
please call me if u are looking for demat account. i will open your account with very less brokerage. and i will give u all detail regarding account. call on this no. 09591772138
Very useful information..!
Thanks!