Guide to Open a Corporate Bank Account in India

A Corporate Bank Account is a type of bank account opened and operated by companies incorporated/registered in India. With the help of this account, the companies can easily manage their business finances separately from personal funds, making legal and tax compliance much simpler. 

If you recently opened a company and want to learn how to open a corporate bank account in India, then you’re on the right track by visiting this blog post! Here, we shall explain to you all the essential steps involved in the corporate bank a/c opening process!

What is Corporate Bank Account?

Corporate bank account meaning can be explained as a bank a/c that is set up in the name of a company rather than in the individual’s name. It is used for business transactions like income, payroll, customer/vendor payments, supplier bills and investments. It separates the business funds from the personal funds.

A corporate bank a/c provides professionalism and financial clarity. It simplifies tax and legal compliance to a great extent. Therefore, it is recommended to open this account as soon as the company gets incorporated. 

Corporate Bank Account Documents Required

The following documents are required for corporate bank account opening online. :-

• Certificate of Incorporation issued by the Registrar of Companies (RoC).

• Memorandum of Association of the company.

• Articles of Association of the company.

• Certificate of Commencement of Business of the company.

• Board Resolution authorizing the Corporate Account Opening.

• PAN Card of the Company.

• Initial Funding Cheque for depositing initial funds in the bank a/c.

• Duly filled FATCA/CRS Annexure.

• Photo Identity of Authorized Signatory/Beneficial Owner. 

• Address Proof of Authorized Signatory/Beneficial Owner (PAN, Passport, Aadhar along with voluntary consent in bank format, Driving License, Voter ID, NREGA Job Card.)

• Address Proof of Company. For this, any of the following documents can be submitted:-

• GST Certificate.

• Shop & Establishment Certificate. 

• Labour License.

• FSSAI License/Registration.

• Certificate issued by ICAI/ICSI.

• IEC Certificate issued by Directorate General of Foreign Trade. 

• Property ownership deed duly stamped and registered,Latest water tax paid receipt / bill. 

• Existing bank acct. statement or passbook of a PSU/Private Sector /Foreign bank, not older than 4 months from the date of account opening.

• Lease/leave & license agreement / rent agreement, duly stamped and accompanied by utility bill in the name of landlord. 

• PAN intimation letter issued by IT authority/EPAN along with (a) print out from website confirming PAN or (b) copy of PAN card. 

• Certificate of incorporation if it contains address, Form 18 / Form INC 22 along with ROC receipt confirming the address. 

• ROC website printout confirming registered address of the firm provided: i. The print out is signed & authenticated by Director or Company Secretary ii. Communication address should be same as registered office.

• Weight & Measurement Certificate. 

• Municipal License, Trade License, Registration Certificate with PF commissioner. 

• ITR along with an acknowledgment of ITR and IP cheque from the Firms A/C.

• Profession Tax Certificate, Letter/Certificate/NOC/Permission issued by village Administrative Officer/Talati/Panchayat Head/Mukhiya/Village Developmental officer. 

• Registration Certificate issued by the Registrar of Partnership Firm. 

• TAN allotment letter.

• Latest property tax receipt in the name of the firm.

• Landline telephone bill / internet or leaseline bill (issued by licensed Telecos such as Airtel, Vodafone, MTNL, BSNL) / Electricity bill of public & approved private operators in the state. (Bills not to be older than 3 months from the date of account opening). 

• Other documents you need to submit with the bank for opening a corporate bk account include:-

• Printout of MCA site’s Company Master (Here, the status of Company must reflect as " Active").

• List of Directors (along with MCA site Printout).

Corporate Bank Account Opening Process

For company bank account opening, several steps need to be followed. Below, we have explained each and every essential step you need to follow. :-

Step 1 :- Gather all the necessary documents for opening a corporate a/c. You will need to attach their copies along with the corporate account opening form.

Step 2 :- Once all the important documents are in place, you must decide the bank you want to open an account with. Apart from the documents mentioned in the list earlier, some additional documents might be required. You can ask the bank about them by visiting their official website, calling them or by visiting their nearest branch.

Step 3 :- Then, you must fill out the application form with all the necessary details. Some banks allow online bk. account opening for businesses. So, you can fill out the form and submit it online. If the online facility isn’t available, then you will need to visit their branch, ask them for the form there and then fill in details before submitting it. Make sure all the details you mention in the form are complete and accurate.

Step 4 :- The directors and authorized signatories will be required to undergo KYC verification for the account opening.

Step 5 :- Once the form is approved and the KYC verification is done, you will need to fund the bk. account through the initial funding cheque. Then, you can begin operating your bank acct. for your company.

Once you fulfill all the above steps, your company’s corporate bank account setup process will be completed. In case you face any issues during the process, you can seek assistance from a bank executive. 

Conclusion

For a business or organization, a corporate bank a/c is essential. It helps to separate the business funds from the personal funds. It makes it easier for companies to simplify legal and tax compliances. Most major banks in India allow businesses to open corporate bank a/c. Before you begin filling out the bank account opening form, make sure you have all the necessary documents in place beforehand. This will help you avoid potential delays and application rejection.

Yet to incorporate a company in India? Connect with our company registration consultants for assistance! We will help you register your company with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) and allow you to obtain the Certificate of Incorporation in a manner that’s hassle free as well as smooth!  

Author: Dushyant Sharma

Hey there, I'm Dushyant Sharma. With the extensive knowledge I've gained in past 8 years, I have been creating content on various subjects such as banking, insurance, telecom, and all the important registration and licensing processes for various companies. I'm here to help everyone with my expertise in these areas through my articles.