Know Your Customer (KYC)

KYC, or Know Your Customer, is the identity and address verification process that every Indian bank and card issuer must complete before opening an account or issuing a credit card, as required by RBI guidelines. The standard KYC documents for a credit card in India are a PAN card (mandatory), an Aadhaar card (for address verification and e-KYC via OTP), a passport-size photograph, and proof of income such as a salary slip or IT return. The process can be completed fully online if you opt for e-KYC using Aadhaar OTP, or physically at a bank branch with photocopies and originals. Banks also perform in-person verification for first-time card applicants. Keeping your KYC updated is mandatory — if your address changes, you must notify the bank within 30 days and provide fresh address proof. Outdated KYC is a common reason for a credit card being blocked or a new card application being rejected. DPDP Act 2023 now also governs how your KYC data is stored and shared.