Linking Aadhaar with a bank account is a crucial step mandated by the Indian government for financial security, transparency, and to access various subsidies and benefits. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and leading public and private banks have issued clear guidelines for both new and existing account holders to complete Aadhaar-linking for seamless banking services. New customers opening a bank account must provide their Aadhaar at the time of account creation. According to the State Bank of India (SBI) and HDFC Bank, Aadhaar serves as both identity and address proof. The linking is done automatically when the Aadhaar card is submitted along with the account opening form and other KYC documents, such as PAN, driving licence, etc. Existing customers can link their Aadhaar to their bank accounts via multiple channels. They've online banking services, log in to internet or mobile banking, navigate to the 'Aadhaar Seeding' section, and submit your Aadhaar details. Many banks, such as Axis Bank, allow Aadhaar linkage by sending a pre-defined SMS from your registered mobile number. There are offline methods as well; you can use the bank's ATM, select the Aadhaar registration option, and enter your Aadhaar number. Visit the nearest branch with your Aadhaar and bank passbook to complete the process offline. List of documents required to link Aadhaar: Original Aadhaar card and a photocopy Bank passbook (for in-branch requests) PAN card (sometimes required for KYC completion) Aadhaar-linked mobile number (for OTP verification) Upon successful linking, banks usually send a confirmation SMS or email. This process is vital for compliance, direct benefit transfers (DBT), and smooth banking operations.(Disclaimer: The above article is meant for informational purposes only, and should not be considered as any investment advice. ET NOW DIGITAL suggests its readers/audience to consult their financial advisors before making any money related decisions.)