Wrong nominee registered in your bank account? How to correct it

If your bank account shows the wrong nominee, fix the record now with a written request and the standard nomination form before it ever matters.

Reviewed on: 2026-05-29.

When the wrong nominee sits on your bank account record, your savings can pass to the wrong hands.

This guide is for you if any of these match your situation:

• Your passbook, statement, or net banking shows a nominee name you never gave.
• You asked the branch to change the nominee, but the old or wrong name still shows.
• A relative's spelling, relationship, or share percentage was recorded incorrectly.
• You suspect a branch staffer added a nominee without your signed consent.
• You are settling a deceased relative's account and discovered the nominee on record is wrong.

Pull up the current nominee on record. Check your passbook nomination page, the latest account statement, and the nominee field in net banking or the mobile app. Take clear screenshots and a photo of the passbook page. Note the exact wrong detail (wrong name, wrong relationship, wrong share, or a nominee you never appointed).

Write a short, dated correction request. State your account number, the wrong nominee currently shown, the correct nominee details, and that you want the record corrected. Download your bank's nomination form (commonly DA1 to make a nomination, DA2 to cancel, DA3 to vary an existing one) from its official website and fill it carefully. Keep ID proof and the nominee's details ready.

• All account holders must sign the nomination form for a joint account.
• Carry one extra copy of the letter for the branch to stamp and return to you.

Prepare your escalation trail in advance. Find your bank's grievance redressal page and the name and email of its nodal or principal nodal officer. Keep a folder ready with the screenshots, the filled form, and your letter. First thing Monday, submit at the branch and email the same to the grievance desk so the 30-day clock starts on record.

1. Confirm exactly what is recorded. Check the nominee shown in your passbook, latest statement, and net banking. Write down the precise error: wrong name, wrong relationship, wrong share split, or a nominee you never appointed. Screenshot everything with the date visible.
2. Download the correct nomination form. Get your bank's nomination form from its official website. Use the form to make a nomination, cancel an existing one, or vary it as your case needs. Do not use a third-party copy you found elsewhere.
3. Fill the form and a short written request. Enter your account number, the correct nominee's full details, and sign. For a joint account, all holders sign. Attach a one-line covering letter asking the branch to correct the wrong nominee currently on record.
4. Submit at your home branch and get acknowledgement. Hand the form and letter to the branch official. Ask them to stamp your spare copy with the date and a receipt or reference number. Do not leave without written proof of submission.
5. Verify the correction was actually made. After a few working days, recheck the nominee in your passbook update and net banking. The record must show the correct name. If the branch caused the original error, ask them to confirm the correction in writing.
6. Escalate to grievance and nodal officer if ignored. If the wrong name persists or the branch refuses, email the bank's grievance redressal desk and nodal officer. Attach your acknowledgement, the form, and the screenshots. Ask for a written resolution and keep their complaint number.
7. Approach the RBI Integrated Ombudsman. If unresolved after 30 days, or the reply is unsatisfactory, lodge a complaint on the RBI CMS portal at cms.rbi.org.in. Pick your bank, describe the wrong-nominee error and the bank's inaction, and upload your documents.
8. File an RTI if it is a public-sector bank. For a PSU bank, send an RTI to its Central Public Information Officer asking for the nomination record, the form on file, and the date and identity of the official who registered the nominee. This often reveals how the wrong entry was made.

Adapt the bracketed parts. Keep a copy of everything you send.

Subject: Correction of wrong nominee recorded on my bank account [Account No.]

To,
The Branch Manager / Grievance Redressal Officer
[Bank name], [Branch name and address]

Subject: Correction of the wrong nominee recorded against my account [Account No.]

Respected Sir/Madam,

I hold Savings/Current Account No. [Account No.] at your branch. On checking my [passbook / statement / net banking] on [date], I found that the nominee recorded against my account is incorrect. The record currently shows [wrong nominee detail], which I did not authorise / which is wrongly entered.

The correct nominee should be:
Name: [correct nominee full name]
Relationship: [relationship]
Date of birth: [DOB]
Address: [address]

I am submitting the duly filled nomination form along with this letter and request you to correct the nominee on record and confirm the change in writing. If this error was caused at the branch, please also share how the wrong nominee came to be registered.

Kindly acknowledge receipt of this request and provide a complaint or reference number. I look forward to a resolution within your published timeline.

Thank you.

[Your full name]
[Account number]
[Mobile number]
[Email]
[Date]

RTI works only when the bank is a public authority. Public-sector banks (those majority-owned by the government) are treated as public authorities under the RTI Act, so you can file an RTI with the bank's Central Public Information Officer. For a wrong-nominee problem at a PSU bank, you can ask for:

• A copy of the nomination form and the nominee currently recorded against your account.
• The date the nominee was registered or last changed, and the official who processed it.
• The branch's record of any nomination-correction request you submitted, with action taken and dates.
• The bank's internal procedure or circular for recording and correcting nominations.

This is powerful when the branch entered a nominee you never appointed, because it forces a dated, signed record into the open.

RTI does not apply to private banks. A private bank is not a public authority, so an RTI to it will simply be returned. The same is true for any purely private service dispute. For a private bank, use the bank's own grievance system first.

• Write to the branch and the bank's grievance redressal and nodal officer, with your correction request and acknowledgement.
• If unresolved after 30 days or the reply is unsatisfactory, lodge a complaint with the RBI Integrated Ombudsman through the CMS portal at cms.rbi.org.in.
• If you suffered a loss or clear deficiency of service, you can also file before the consumer commission using the e-Daakhil portal or call the National Consumer Helpline.

• Asking the branch to change the nominee verbally and never getting a stamped, dated acknowledgement.
• Using a random nomination form from the internet instead of your bank's current official form.
• Forgetting that a joint account needs all holders to sign the nomination form.
• Going straight to the RBI Ombudsman before giving the bank 30 days and a written complaint.
• Filing an RTI against a private bank, which is not covered by the RTI Act.
• Not rechecking the passbook or net banking after submission to confirm the record actually changed.

• RBI complaints and how to file
• RBI Complaint Management System (CMS) portal
• Consumer e-Daakhil filing portal
• National Consumer Helpline
• File an RTI online (Government of India)

Yes. You appoint or change a nominee by submitting your bank's official nomination form at the branch, with ID proof. Banks commonly use a form to make a nomination, another to cancel it, and another to vary an existing one. Always collect a dated acknowledgement and recheck the nominee in your passbook or net banking afterwards.

Put it in writing immediately. Submit a correction request with the official nomination form, your ID, and screenshots of the wrong entry. Get a stamped, dated receipt. If the branch caused the error and delays fixing it, escalate to the bank's grievance desk and nodal officer, and then to the RBI Ombudsman if it stays unresolved.

Yes. For a joint account, all account holders must sign the nomination form. A single holder cannot change the nominee alone. Make sure every holder signs before you submit, or the branch will reject the request.

Only if it is a public-sector bank, which counts as a public authority under the RTI Act. You can ask its Central Public Information Officer for the nomination form on record, the date it was registered, and the official who processed it. RTI does not apply to private banks.

Approach the RBI Integrated Ombudsman after you have complained to the bank and either got no reply for 30 days or an unsatisfactory one. File on the CMS portal at cms.rbi.org.in, describe the wrong-nominee error and the bank's inaction, and upload your documents.

No. A nominee is only a trustee who receives the balance on the account holder's death and must pass it to the legal heirs. A wrong nominee does not change who legally inherits, but it can cause disputes and delay, so correcting the record early is worth it.

Making or changing a nomination is generally a routine account service. Any charge, if applicable, varies by bank, so confirm it at your branch and on the bank's official schedule of charges before you submit the form.

• Open your passbook, statement, and net banking and screenshot the wrong nominee with today's date showing.
• Download your bank's official nomination form and fill in the correct nominee's full details.
• Write the short correction letter using the template above and print a spare copy for stamping.
• Find your bank's grievance redressal page and save the nodal officer's email for escalation.
• If your bank is a public-sector bank, draft an RTI asking who registered the nominee and when.

Wrong nominee registered in bank account — complete guide on how to change or correct the nominee name:

1. Step 1: What is a bank account nominee and why does it matter? (a) a nominee — is the person — designated — by the account holder — to receive — the balance — of the bank account — (the savings, the FD, the locker) — on the death — of the account holder, (b) the nomination — is made — under Section 45ZA — of the Banking Regulation Act 1949 — and the nomination form — is Form DA-1 — (for the bank account) — and Form DA-2 — (for the cancellation — or the change), © the nominee — is the trustee — of the account — and not necessarily the heir — and the legal heirs — can claim — the amount — from the nominee — but the nominee — gets the amount — from the bank — directly, (d) the problem: (i) the wrong nominee — is registered — because of the error — at the time — of the account opening — or the change, (ii) the nominee — is the ex-spouse — after the divorce, (iii) the nominee — is the deceased family member, (iv) the nominee — is the minor — and the guardian — is not appointed.
2. Step 2: How to check the current nominee. (a) visit the bank branch — with the passbook — and the ID — and ask — for the nomination details, (b) check the bank app — (some banks — like SBI, HDFC, ICICI — show the nominee — in the app — under the profile — or the account details), © check the account opening form — (the nomination — is mentioned — in the form), (d) file RTI — with the bank — asking for the nomination details — if the bank — does not disclose.
3. Step 3: How to change the nominee. (a) the process: (i) visit the bank branch — and submit — the Form DA-2 — (the nomination change form), (ii) the form — requires: (a) the account number, (b) the name — of the new nominee, © the relationship, (d) the address, (e) the date of birth — (if the nominee — is a minor), (f) the guardian — (if the nominee — is a minor), (iii) the form — is signed — by the account holder — and submitted — with the ID proof, (b) the online process: (i) some banks — (SBI, HDFC, ICICI, Axis) — allow — the nomination change — online — through the net banking — or the app, (ii) the online process — requires — the OTP — or the debit card — for the verification, © the timeline: (i) the nomination change — is processed — within 7-15 days — and the confirmation — is sent — by the bank.
4. Step 4: Bank-wise nomination change process. (a) SBI: (i) visit the branch — and submit — the Form DA-2 — or use — the SBI Yono app — under “Service Requests” — > “Nomination Change”, (ii) the form — is available — at the branch — or online — at sbi.co.in, (b) HDFC Bank: (i) visit the branch — or use — the HDFC NetBanking — under “Accounts” — > “Nomination”, (ii) the online change — is available — for the single accounts — and not for the joint accounts, © ICICI Bank: (i) visit the branch — or use — the ICICI iMobile app — under “Services” — > “Nomination”, (ii) the online change — is available — for the single accounts, (d) Axis Bank: (i) visit the branch — or use — the Axis Mobile app — under “Services” — > “Nomination”, (e) PNB: (i) visit the branch — and submit — the Form DA-2, (f) Bank of Baroda: (i) visit the branch — or use — the BOB World app — under “Profile” — > “Nomination”.
5. Step 5: What to do if the bank refuses to change the nominee. (a) the bank — can refuse — if: (i) the account — is joint — and the other holder — has not signed, (ii) the account — is frozen — or the KYC — is pending, (iii) the form — is incomplete — or the nominee — is not identifiable, (b) the escalation: (i) the Branch Manager — submit — the written complaint — with the form — and the ID, (ii) the Nodal Officer — escalate — if the Branch Manager — does not resolve — within 7 days, (iii) the Banking Ombudsman — file the complaint — at the RBI Ombudsman — if the Nodal Officer — does not resolve — within 30 days, (iv) the RBI — complaint — on the RBI CMS portal — at cms.rbi.org.in, © the RTI: (i) file RTI — with the bank — asking for the nomination change — status — and the reason — for the refusal.
6. Step 6: File RTI on bank nomination. (a) the banks — are the “substantial government financing” — entities — and some banks — (SBI, PNB, BoB, Canara) — are public authorities — under the RTI Act — and the RTI — can be filed, (b) the private banks — (HDFC, ICICI, Axis) — are NOT public authorities — but the RTI — can be filed — with the RBI — for the regulatory — and the supervisory — information, © the RTI application — can ask: (i) “Provide the nomination details — of the account [number] — including: (a) the nominee name, (b) the relationship, © the date — of nomination”, (ii) “Provide the status — of the nomination change — request — filed on [date] — reference [number] — including: (a) the action taken, (b) the reason — for the delay — or the refusal”, (iii) “Provide the process — and the timeline — for the nomination change — in the bank — including: (a) the form, (b) the documents, © the timeline”, (d) the application fee — is Rs 10 — by the IPO — or the online payment.
7. Step 7: Practical tips. (a) check the nominee — at the time — of the account opening — and verify — the name — and the relationship, (b) update the nominee — after the life events — (the marriage, the divorce, the death — of the nominee), © keep the nomination form — copy — for the record, (d) use the online process — for the faster — change, (e) file RTI — if the bank — does not disclose — or does not change — the nominee, (f) Example: An account holder — discovered — that the nominee — was the ex-spouse — after the divorce — she submitted — the Form DA-2 — at the SBI branch — and the nominee — was changed — to the son — within 10 days — and the confirmation — was received — by SMS — and the passbook — was updated.

See Wrong Nominee and Nominee Death Claim.