Universal Banking: Meaning, Features And Benefits

Key takeaways 
 

• Universal banking is a system which offers all the financial services like, retail, investment, and wholesale, under one roof.
   
• The world's first bank was established in Italy in 1157, known as “Bank of Venice”, then, approximately 500 years later the “Bank of England” was established by the Britishers on July 27, 1694. 
   
• There are many banks in India which work as small financial banks (SFBs) and payment banks (PBs). These banks can apply to become Universal banks to the RBI.

What is universal banking?

Universal banking is nothing but the normal banks we use for our daily operations. This is a system where banks provide various Financial services, such as commercial and investment, to the customers. With the universal banks, customers can do work including asset management, deposit, loans, payment processing, security transactions, financial analysis, and underwriting. 

In the universal bank system, large banks have a network of branches which operate different kinds of functions, hold claims on equity and debt, and help businesses to grow by offering loans. You can open a savings account, current account, recurring deposit account, fixed deposit account, demat account, and NRI account in these banks. Also, you can deposit into FDs and RDs. 

Advantages of universal banking 

1. Economics of scale

When you invest in large production, the cost will be less and production will be high, which will result in profit. In economics of scale.

2. Facilities 

You get an overdraft facility demand draft facility. You can use IMPS, NEFT, RTGS, net, and mobile banking. 

3. Insurance 

These banks tie up with insurance companies and offer their customers insurance like wealth, health, life, medical, vehicle, etc. 

4. Pension 

You don't need to go anywhere else to manage or get updates about your pension funds. Universal banks manage them too. Provident fund schemes, government schemes, and accounts are managed by these banks.

5. Investment 

You can also invest in IPO, gold, real estate, fixed deposits, and mutual funds through banking. Banks act as a medium for investments. You can do easy transactions via banks.

6. Locker facility 

These banks offer you a locker facility, so that you can keep your money, important documents, gold, diamonds or any other valuable thing. Banks charge annual fees on this, but it is a safe option.

7. Cards

Banks issue various cards to ease banking work for customers. You can use a debit card to withdraw money from an ATM and spend money online anywhere. A credit card gives you credit, which you pay for later ( a loan). Prepaid cards work like a wallet.

Who can open an account in a universal bank?

Anyone whose age is above 18 can open a bank account, and for minors their parents can open accounts in different categories. A person should have proper documentation. Earlier, opening a bank account was a hectic process but with the digitalisation it has become very convenient now. 

You have both online and offline options to open a bank account. In online mode, you need to visit the official banks website and follow the options given for opening an account. For offline mode, you just need to visit a bank branch, bank staff will guide you and open an account for you. 

Documents required for bank account 

• Adhar card 
• PAN card 
• 2 passport size photograph 

These three documents are most important to open a bank account but if you want to get facilities like online payment, ATM withdrawal, and bank switching, KYC( Know your customers )is crucial. 

Documents required for KYC

• Voter ID
• Adhar card 

Not all the above documents are necessary for KYC, if some are missing still you can do KYC.

Universal banks in india

Universal banks in India give many services like saving money, giving loans, and helping people invest, and they are of two types; public and private banks.

Public sector (government‑owned)