KARACHI, June 3: The State Bank has reminded banks and development finance institutions (DFIs) that the computerized national identity card (CNICs) is an essential requirement for opening and maintaining bank accounts. The central bank said in a letter issued to banks and the DFIS that according to changes in the relevant rules introduced on Jan 31, 2004, they were supposed to get an attested copy of the CNIC from customers both for opening new accounts and maintaining the old ones.

“It has, however, been observed that despite a lapse of over a year, banks/DFIs are continuing relationships with their existing customers on the basis of old NICs in violation of Prudential Regulation M-1,” the letter says.

It advises banks and DFIs to obtain an attested copy of the CNIC from their existing customers and also from those who had opened their accounts on the basis of receipts issued by the NADRA, acknowledging that they had applied for the CNIC, but have not furnished a copy of their CNIC as yet.

The central bank has advised banks and DFIs that they must comply with the advice by Nov 30, 2005. It has also told them to communicate this advice to their customers by whatever means they can, and also through a separate letter along with their half-yearly statements of accounts.