Non-resident Indians (NRIs) have been warned that they will have their bank account in India frozen if they fail to update their personal details with their bank.

“As per RBI [Reserve Bank of India] guidelines, banks are required to periodically update customer identification documents, including photographs. Therefore, we request you to complete and submit the know your customer [KYC] documents listed below along with a duly filled customer update form.”

An NRI has to submit his current passport and visa copy, address proof (Indian or overseas address, whichever is available), a recent passport-sized photograph along with the customer update form.

The bank adds: “The above documents need to be submitted within 30 days of date of this intimation. The bank reserves the option to freeze the account in case of non-submission of the said documents.”

An individual, who works as a manger in a real estate company, told “I have two NRE accounts. Yesterday I got this email and fortunately I opened to read it… they have asked me to update my details and failure could result in bank freezing my account.”

Cut off line for submission is April 30 2011