New Guidelines for Bank Locker Usage: List of Items Banned

Vishal Shukla December 22, 2023

A recent incident involving termite infestation damaging notes stored in a bank locker in Udaipur has sparked a discussion about what can and cannot be kept in a bank locker.

Many individuals, companies, partnership firms, limited companies, associations, and clubs utilize bank lockers to safeguard valuable items like gold, diamond jewelry, money, and important documents.

Here are some key points regarding what you can’t keep in a bank locker, based on revised rules:

Items Prohibited in a Bank Locker

Cash or Currency: As per the State Bank of India (SBI) website, the revised rules stipulate that bank lockers can be used only for valid purposes, such as storing jewelry and documents, but not for cash or currency.
Arms, Weapons, Explosives, Drugs: You cannot store arms, weapons, explosives, drugs, or any prohibited items in a bank locker.
Fusible or Radioactive Material: Any material that is fusible, radioactive, or illegal is not allowed in a bank locker.
Items Constituting a Threat: Items that may pose a threat to the bank or its customers are also prohibited.

Safe Storage Tips for Bank Lockers

To ensure the safekeeping of your items in a bank locker, you can follow these tips, as suggested by Kotak Mahindra Bank:

Use airtight (zipped or sealed) plastic bags or pouches to protect papers and other items from moisture exposure.
Laminate paper documents to extend their longevity.
Keep jewelry in a plastic box that fits inside the locker.

Items You Can Keep in a Bank Locker

Bank lockers are ideal for safeguarding items like documents, jewelry, birth or marriage certificates, savings bonds, insurance policies, and other confidential and personal items that require secure storage.

Bank Liability in Case of Loss

If a loss occurs due to the negligence or default of the bank’s employees, commission, or fraud, the bank’s liability is equal to one hundred times the locker rent.

For example, if the locker rent is Rs 2,000, the bank would be liable for Rs 200,000.

This liability ensures that the bank takes responsibility for losses caused by its own actions or misconduct.