See, signatures are one of the most important things to make sure you can easily transact with your bank account. But the thing is, it often happens when you forget your signature because it has been a long time since you tried your signature because the bank account is way too old, right? Or it could be that your handwriting has changed over time, and now you can’t sign the original signature, even if you want to. These are the issues that occur more often than you think and with so many people. So what’s the solution? First of all, you must get to know which signature is currently linked with your account and then, we’ll get to the fix part later. Let’s get to it then.
Why Checking Your Signature Matters?
You see, it is really important to keep up with or update your signature with your bank. Indeed, the signature forms a key part in how banks assure themselves that any transaction or change to your account is really from you. This is designed to stop all fraud and unauthorized access to your account. So, when you sign for something at the bank, they look at your file to confirm it is you. This makes your money safe and assures that only you are the one to make changes or transact.
The bank would like to verify your signature during a number of instances, such as when you order a new checkbook. They will verify the signature to correspond with what they have on their form. The same shall happen if a customer makes large amounts of transactions or makes updates with personal details. This is all to ensure that the account is very safe because any changes are made only and strictly by you.
Sometimes a signature is important too, since in some legal and official documents, say a bank guarantee or a loan agreement, the bank has to be able to cross-check that the signature matches to make the document valid. The entire course of legal formalities has to be abided with, therefore, the following document becomes valid with the legal step involved here. In fact, at times, this can happen due to changes in your handwriting or health issues that affect how you sign. It may cause problems of credibility if the signature does not match. This is always recommended that you keep updating your signature with the bank. Just check it from time to time and make sure it matches what they have in their records. That way, you avoid all the hassle.
Methods to Check Your Bank Account Signature
1. Checking Online Banking
Online banking is super handy for managing your bank account, but it’s not always the go-to for checking your signature. Many banks, including the State Bank of India (SBI), do not show signatures online for security reasons. This is very necessary to keep your account secure and safe from fraud in case it gets hacked. If you wish to see your own signature, then you can always do it by means of online banking through online customer support. Even if the platform doesn’t show your signature, the bank staff will help you move forward.
2. Dropping by Your Local Bank Branch
The best and sure way to check your signature is by visiting your local bank branch. It’s pretty simple. First, make sure that you have your identification documents ready, like your Aadhaar card, PAN card, or voter ID. Go into the bank, and upon reaching the entrance, head straight to the front desk and request an official there to verify your signature with the bank. The bank official may ask for some IDs and perhaps ask you to fill in a form. Then, as you turn in the form and your papers, they will compare your old signature with their files and tell you that they match.
3. Use of the Mobile Application for Online Banking
Mobile banking apps offer the same convenience for managing bank accounts online, but usually, they do not have your signature displayed on them for reasons of security. You can still use that app to request assistance in verifying the signature, contact customer service through the app, and request information about it. They are likely to guide you further on how it’s done. Some banks even go to the extent that you can even request signature verification or any alterations through this app, making the whole process hassle-free.
What Happens When Your Signature Doesn’t Match?
Signature mismatch is a common issue, especially if you don’t use your bank account often or your handwriting has changed over time. If you have an old account that you do not use regularly, then you may not remember the signature that you signed at that time for that purpose. In short, you can easily be in a position where you cannot withdraw or undertake ordinary banking transactions. In this case, opening a joint account with a trusted family member is a good solution.
With technological developments, many of us prefer typing on devices rather than writing by hand. This can deteriorate our handwriting and increase the chances of signature mismatch. Therefore, just to avoid them, one has to keep practicing his or her signature.
Tips to Avoid Signature Mismatches
To avoid these issues, here are a few tips:
- Practice Regularly: Make sure to sign your name often enough to keep it consistent.
- Check Your Signature: If you’re not sure what your official signature looks like, check with your bank.
- Consider Health Changes: If health issues affect your handwriting, consider updating your signature at the bank or opening a joint account with someone you trust.
Final Thoughts
There you have it. With these tips in your hands, now you are better off on your own to not only find which signature is linked with your bank account but to update it and fix the issues associated with it. Right? Alright, now give it a go.
