A woman has accused HDFC Bank, the country’s largest private sector bank, of delaying the transfer of money from her late husband’s account to the nominee for more than a year, despite clear documents and no dispute.
In a detailed post on social media platform X, the woman said public sector banks are often criticised for poor service, but her experience with HDFC Bank has been far worse. She said that even after one year, the bank has failed to transfer the funds, while another private bank completed the process in just two weeks.
According to the post, the nominee is the couple’s adult daughter, and there are no conflicting claims. The family submitted all required documents, including the death certificate. However, the woman said the bank has repeatedly asked for new paperwork every time they visit the branch.
She alleged that during a recent visit, bank officials said they could not trace the submitted documents because the employee who received them was no longer working at the branch. The family was then asked to arrange stamp paper and notarised documents for auto-debits that were charged after the husband’s death and before the account was frozen.
The bank also reportedly asked the family to get approval from HDFC Standard Life to stop an auto-debit linked to an investment. After waiting at the branch, they were told to visit the insurance company’s office instead, which was far away and closing soon.
The woman said that over the past year, her daughter has had to take time off during holidays to visit the bank, often spending entire days there. Each visit, she said, required them to explain the case from the beginning to different officials. She described the experience as emotionally distressing for her 20-year-old daughter, as it forces her to repeatedly relive the loss of her father.
She said that while her family can manage financially without immediate access to the money, many others may not be in the same position. She questioned how families who depend on such funds for survival are expected to cope with such delays.
Calling the bank’s actions inefficient and insensitive, the woman said the case is straightforward and “should not be complicated.” She tagged HDFC Bank and its customer care handle on X, seeking accountability and resolution.
