CDSL Demat Account Number

What is CDSL?

Central Depository Services (India) Limited or in short CDSL is a market infrastructure institution that is wholly involved in the Indian securities and the capital market. Its primary role is to provide services to all; exchanges, clearing corporations, DPs, Issuers, and as well as investors.

Anatomy of Demat account numbers

Now there are 2 formats of a Demat account number:

1. CDSL Demat account number
   If the depository is CDSL, your Demat account number or (Beneficiary Owner) BO ID will be a 16-digit number.
2. NSDL Demat account number
   If the depository is NSDL, your Demat account number will be a 16-digit alpha-numeric number with the beginning 2 characters being ‘IN’.

How To Find CDSL Demat Account Number?

After successfully opening a Demat account, the investor will receive a welcome package that includes a welcome message, information regarding the trading account, and the Demat number for that investor which should be kept confidential. The format of your Demat number will vary depending on your choice of DP/ brokerage.

Now if your Demat account is registered through CDSL, your Beneficiary ID or BO ID will be a 16-digit number. This number is unique for each individual account. The DP ID is a number allocated by the NSDL to a depository participant such as a brokerage firm or other financial institutions such as a bank. It is also important to note that the format of a Demat account varies in the case of both CDSL and NSDL. An example of a CDSL Demat account number is can be 01234567890987654

Advantages of a CDSL Demat account number

An account registered with CDSL has its advantages, to name a few:

1. Access to your Demat account – with the CDSL EASIEST portal access to a Demat account is available anywhere anytime.
2. Single Point login – CDSL allows access to multiple Demat accounts under one portal, helping users keep track of their investments with ease.
3. Transfer of Securities – one can easily initiate the transfer of securities through CDSL portal, this eliminates the need to manually fill or submit any documents to the DP.
4. Maximum Security – All transactions conducted through the CDSL portal are safe, secure, and encrypted. Transfer can take place only after 2-factor authentication is set by the primary account holder.

Services provided by CDSL

1. EASI - Electronic Access to Securities Information, an internet-based facility, allows BOs to monitor their CDSL Demat account at a place and time of their choosing. EASI also provides details of corporate announcements for ISINs held in their account as well as 25 additional ISINs.
2. EASIEST - Electronic Access to Securities Information & Execution of Secure Transactions, an internet-based facility, allows BOs to submit debit instructions through the internet, thus obviating the need of visiting their DP offices to submit instruction slips.
3. SMART - SMS alert facility SMART (SMS Alerts Related to Transactions) enables BOs registered for this facility to receive SMS alerts in case of any debits or credits related to corporate actions or any change in demographic details in their accounts.
4. E-Voting – A web-based system through which shareholders can login and register their votes on company resolutions.
5. MYEASI mobile app - MYEASI mobile app is designed with adaptive technology such that it fits in all Smartphone/tab screen sizes. Investors can log-in to the App using their EASI/EASIEST log-in credentials. The app allows e-voting functions as well.
6. E-Locker – It is an online document storage facility to store important documents in electronic form at one central secure location. This facility is available for EASI/EASIEST users.

Wrapping Up

All the privileges provided are incentive enough to hold a Demat account registered through CDSL. Thanks to the CDSL portal facility, all that you have to do is log into your Demat account using your CDSL EASIEST user credentials, select the shares that you wish to transfer, enter the Demat account number of the recipient, and authorize the transfer through PIN and/or OTP. We have to keep in mind that the safety and security of share or money transactions are of paramount importance to all entities involved; the DP, CDSL, SEBI and also you, the investor.