All about Dematerialization and Demat Accounts

WHAT IS DEMATERIALIZATION?

Today Banks have emerged as important financial institutions. Banks provide a safe environment and helps us manage our financial transactions. To avail professional banking service it is mandatory for every individual to open a bank account. Opening a bank account is not a difficult task. It takes only seven easy steps to open a bank account. This article will help you understand these seven simple steps or procedure to open a bank account.

Technology has brought about a drastic change in our everyday lives. The stock markets too have not been left untouched by the change. In 1875, the Bombay Stock Exchange was founded with an open outcry floor trading exchange. Traders would stand on the floor and shout prices of stocks for buying or selling. Then, money would be exchanged for physical receipts of the shares called the certificate. This led to a great amount of paperwork. Even the settlements of trade agreements took time because of the need to deliver the share certificates.

Much has changed since.

In 1996, dematerialization was embraced. Dematerialization is the process by which physical share certificates held by an investor are converted into an equivalent number of securities in electronic form and credited into the investor’s demat account.

BENEFITS OF DEMATERIALIZATION

• COMMON BANK:- Dematerialization is not just for shares, but also for debt instruments like bonds. Now, you can hold all your investments in a single account.
• AUTOMATIC UPDATE:- Since this is a common account, you don’t have to keep giving all your details like addresses every time you transact or every time you change the details. These details are automatically made available to companies you transact with.
• ODD-LOT PROBLEM:- Earlier, shares were transacted in lots. A single or odd number of securities could not be transacted. This problem is now eliminated.
• DELIVERY RISKS:- Dematerialization has also eliminated the risks of fake shares, thefts, deliveries gone wrong, and so on, and reduced the paperwork involved. Time of delivery has also reduced drastically. Once your trade is approved, the securities are automatically credited to your account. This applies to other company-related activities like stock splits, stock bonuses, and so on.
• COST REDUCTION:- Earlier, when you transferred the securities, you incurred extra costs due to the stamp duty. This is not a problem with the demat form.
• EASY TO HOLD:- Paper certificates are vulnerable to tears and damage. In contrast, the dematerialized or demat format is a safe and convenient way to hold securities. You also have a nomination facility, whereby you can facilitate a transfer of shares in the event of your demise.

WHAT IS SHARE MARKET?

A demat is to your shares what a bank account is to your money. Simply put, it is the account that holds all your shares in electronic or dematerialized form. Like the bank account, a demat account holds the certificates of your financial instruments like shares, bonds, government securities, mutual funds and exchange traded funds (ETFs). You cannot trade in the stock market without a demat account.

UNDERSTAND HOW THE DEMAT ACCOUNT WORKS:

• CENTRAL DEPOSITORY:- There are two depositories in India – the CDSL and NSDL. They hold all the demat accounts. The central depository holds details of your shareholding on your behalf like banks.
• UNIQUE ID:- Each demat account has a unique number for identification purposes. This is the number you need to provide for transactions. The number will help the exchange and companies identify you and credit the shares in your account.
• DEPOSITORY PARTICIPANTS:-Access to the central depository is provided by the Depository Participants or DPs. They act as the intermediary between the central depository and the investor. DPs could be banks, brokers or financial institutions that are empowered to offer demat services. Kotak Securities is one such Depository Participant (DP). You open a demat account or a Beneficial Owner (BO) accounts with a DP, who will provide you a unique access to the central depository.
• PORTFOLIO HOLDING:- The demat account holds all your securities. So, whenever you check your account, you can see your portfolio holding and its details. These are updated automatically every time you conduct a transaction – be is buying or selling a security.

HOW DO YOU OPEN A DEMAT ACCOUNT?

1. Then fill up an account opening form and submit along with copies of the required documents and a passport-sized photograph. You also need to have a PAN card. Also carry the original documents for verification.
2. You will be provided with a copy of the rules and regulations, the terms of the agreement and the charges that you will incur.
3. During the process, an In-Person Verification would be carried out. A member of the DP’s staff would contact you to check the details provided in the account opening form.
4. Once the application is processed, the DP will provide you with an account number or client ID. You can use the details to access your demat account online.
5. As a demat account holder, you would need to pay some fees like the annual maintenance fee levied for maintenance of account and the transaction fee -- levied for debiting securities to and from the account on a monthly basis. These fees differ from every service provider (called a Depository Participant or DP). While some DPs charge a flat fee per transaction, others peg the fee to the transaction value, and are subject to a minimum amount. The fee also differs based on the kind of transaction (buying or selling). In addition to the other fees, the DP also charges a fee for converting the shares from the physical to the electronic form or vice-versa.
6. Minimum shares: A demat account can be opened with no balance of shares. It also does not require that a minimum balance be maintained.

WHAT ARE THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR A DEMAT ACCOUNT?

You need to submit proof of identity and address along with a passport size photograph and the account opening form. Only photocopies of the documents are required for submission, but originals are also required for verification.

Here is a broad list of documents that can be used as proofs:

You need to submit proof of identity and address along with a passport size photograph and the account opening form. Only photocopies of the documents are required for submission, but originals are also required for verification.

Proof of identity: PAN card, voter's ID, passport, driver's license, bank attestation, IT returns, electricity bill, telephone bill, ID cards with applicant's photo issued by the central or state government and its departments, statutory or regulatory authorities, public sector undertakings (PSUs), scheduled commercial banks, public financial institutions, colleges affiliated to universities, or professional bodies such as ICAI, ICWAI, ICSI, bar council etc.

Proof of address: Ration card, passport, voter ID card, driving license, bank passbook or bank statement, verified copies of electricity bills, residence telephone bills, leave and license agreement or agreement for sale, self-declaration by High Court or Supreme Court judges, identity card or a document with address issued by the central or state government and its departments, statutory or regulatory authorities, public sector undertakings (PSUs), scheduled commercial banks, public financial institutions, colleges affiliated to universities and professional bodies such as ICAI, ICWAI, Bar Council etc.

This is easy. All you need to do is fill in the Demat Request Form (DRM), fill in the appropriate details of the share certificates you hold, and submit it with the physical share receipt. Every share certificate needs a separate DRM form. Once the form is approved, your demat account will automatically be updated to reflect your newly dematerialized shares.

WHAT NEXT?

Now that you know all about dematerialization and demat accounts, learn how to open a demat account