How to Change Nominee in SBI Bank Account Online: Step-by-Step Guide
State Bank of India (SBI) depositors can easily add, modify, or cancel bank nominees online without visiting a physical branch. This service is available through the SBI Net Banking portal or the YONO SBI mobile application, providing a secure and convenient way to manage your account details from home. Keeping your nomination details updated is essential to safeguard your assets and ensure that your hard-earned savings can be claimed smoothly by your beneficiaries without lengthy legal delays.
Following the 2025 Banking Laws Amendment, SBI has introduced updated nomination rules that offer greater flexibility. Depositors can now select up to four nominees per eligible deposit account, structured either simultaneously with split percentages or successively in order of priority. Online nomination modifications are completely free, secure, and typically take up to two working days to reflect in the bank’s systems.
SBI Nominee Rules: What are the Latest 2025 Amendments?
The transition from legacy banking laws to the 2025 Nomination Rules has brought significant changes for SBI account holders. Previously, depositors were restricted to naming a single nominee per account. Under the updated guidelines, you can now designate up to four nominees for your deposit accounts. This change helps depositors distribute their assets more precisely among family members.
It is important to remember that a bank nominee acts legally as a custodian of the funds, not necessarily the ultimate legal owner. The nominee’s role is to receive the funds from the bank in the event of the account holder’s death and distribute them to the legal heirs according to the deceased’s will or succession laws. Keeping your nominations updated ensures your estate is protected from frozen accounts during claim processing.
Simultaneous vs. Successive Nomination Structures
When adding multiple nominees under the 2025 rules, you must choose how the nomination is structured. You can select one of two methods:
- Simultaneous Nomination: This structure allows up to four nominees to share the account proceeds. You must specify the exact percentage allocated to each nominee, and the total allocation across all designated nominees must equal exactly 100%.
- Successive Nomination: This structure orders up to four nominees by priority of eligibility. If the first nominee is unavailable or deceased at the time of the claim, the right to the funds passes to the second nominee, and so on, down the priority order.
Prerequisites & Eligibility for Online SBI Nominee Change
Before attempting to change your nominee online, ensure you meet the necessary eligibility criteria. The online portal is designed for straightforward individual holdings, while more complex accounts still require manual processing at a branch.
- Eligible Accounts: Online nomination services are available for single-holder savings accounts, Fixed Deposits (FD), Recurring Deposits (RD), and Public Provident Fund (PPF) accounts.
- Account Ownership: You must hold an active, individual SBI account.
- Exclusions: The online service is strictly prohibited for non-individual and representative accounts, such as Hindu Undivided Family (HUF), partnership, trust, and corporate accounts.
- Digital Credentials: You must have active SBI Internet Banking credentials or registered access to the YONO SBI mobile app.
- Authentication: Your registered mobile number must be active and capable of receiving High-Security Password One-Time Passwords (OTPs) to complete the transaction.
Documents & Details Required to Update Nominee Details
To ensure a smooth online transaction, keep the following details ready before you log in to the portal. No physical documents need to be uploaded, but the information entered must match the nominee’s government-issued identification cards:
- Your SBI Account Number and Customer ID (CIF).
- The nominee’s full legal name, spelled exactly as it appears on their government ID.
- The nominee’s exact Date of Birth.
- The nominee’s relationship to the account holder.
- The nominee’s full address and contact details.
- If the nominee is a minor, you must appoint an adult guardian. For the guardian, you will need to provide their full name, relationship to the minor, address, and mobile number.
Step-by-Step: How to Change SBI Nominee Online via Net Banking
To change an existing nominee online, you must first cancel the active nomination and then register the new nominee details. Follow this step-by-step process on the official SBI Net Banking portal:
- Go to the official SBI Net Banking website (onlinesbi.sbi) and log in using your username, password, and the OTP sent to your registered mobile number.
- Navigate to the e-Services tab on the top menu bar and click on Online Nomination on the left-hand sidebar.
- Select your Product Type (such as Deposit Account or Savings Account) and choose the specific Account Number you wish to update.
- To modify a nominee, you must first click on Cancel Nomination, accept the terms and conditions, submit the request, and authenticate it using the OTP sent to your mobile.
- Once the cancellation is processed, return to the main Online Nomination menu and click on Register Nomination.
- Select the account again and enter the new nominee’s details, including their legal name, date of birth, relationship, and address.
- Specify the allocation share percentage if you are choosing a simultaneous structure, or arrange the priority order if you are opting for a successive nomination structure.
- Review the entered details, click Submit, and enter the High-Security Password OTP sent to your registered mobile number to finalize the request.
Alternative Online Method: YONO SBI Mobile Application
If you prefer using your smartphone, you can update your nominee details through the YONO SBI mobile application. The app offers a simple layout to achieve the same results as the desktop portal:
- Open the YONO SBI app on your smartphone and log in using your MPIN or biometric credentials.
- Navigate to the menu and select the Service Request option.
- Under the Service Request section, tap on Account Nominee.
- Select the account for which you wish to modify the nomination.
- Follow the prompts to cancel your existing nominee and input the new details, confirming the update with an OTP.
SBI Nominee Update Fees & Processing Timelines
The cost and processing times for modifying a nominee depend entirely on the channel you choose to complete the request:
- Online Portal (Net Banking & YONO): The service is completely free. There are no service charges or transaction fees for adding, changing, or cancelling a nominee online.
- Branch/Offline Portal: If you choose to update your nominee by visiting an SBI branch, a physical service fee of ₹100 + GST is charged per instance for modifications.
- Fee Exemptions: Physical nominee updates for the Public Provident Fund (PPF) and the Senior Citizens Savings Scheme (SCSS) are exempt from branch fees.
- Processing Timeline: Online updates do not reflect instantly. It typically takes up to two working days for the changes to be processed and updated across SBI’s core banking systems.
When Must You Visit the Branch? Exceptions & Restrictions
While the online portal covers most individual accounts, certain scenarios require physical documentation and a visit to your home branch:
- Safe Deposit Lockers: Locker nominations cannot be updated online. You must visit the home branch in person. Note that locker nominations must use a successive nomination structure and cannot use a simultaneous split structure.
- Complex Joint Accounts: Joint accounts with complex holding structures, such as ‘Jointly Operated’ accounts, require the physical signatures of all account holders. These updates must be submitted at the branch using physical forms.
- Physical Forms: For offline modifications, you must use standard nomination forms. Use Form DA-1 to register a new nomination, Form DA-2 to cancel an existing nomination, and Form DA-3 to vary or change a nomination.
- Automatic Renewals: For fixed and term deposits, your registered nominee remains valid during automatic renewals, so you do not need to update them unless you wish to change the person designated.
Official Sources
- State Bank of India (Nomination Facility Page)
- Press Information Bureau (PIB), Government of India
- State Bank of India (NRI FAQ Portal)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make multiple people nominees in my SBI savings account?
Yes. Under the 2025 Banking Laws Amendment, you can add up to four nominees to your SBI savings and deposit accounts using either a simultaneous (percentage split totaling 100%) or successive (priority order) structure.
How much does SBI charge to change a nominee online?
There are zero charges for modifying or cancelling a nominee online through SBI Net Banking or the YONO SBI app. If you choose to make changes offline at a branch, a fee of ₹100 + GST applies (except for PPF and SCSS accounts).
How long does it take for the nominee’s name to change online in SBI?
It typically takes up to two working days for the online nominee update or cancellation to process and reflect in SBI’s active records.
Can a minor be added as a nominee online?
Yes, you can add a minor as a nominee online. However, you must provide their exact date of birth and designate an adult guardian, providing the guardian’s name, relationship, address, and contact details.
Conclusion
Updating your nominee details online through SBI Net Banking or the YONO app is a simple, cost-free, and secure process that saves you from waiting in bank queues. Under the updated rules, you have the flexibility to secure your assets for up to four loved ones. Proactively reviewing and updating your nominations after major life events ensures that your family is protected from legal hurdles and can access your funds smoothly when they need them most.
