Passbook is one of the important tool to keep a track of one’s banking related transactions. A bank’s passbook is a small booklet having certain number of pages that contains banking related transactions related to deposits, transfers, withdrawals and interest earned. Passbook shows the transactions history of both savings and current account. The traditional passbook has been used for many years and has been a popular way for customers to track and monitor the account activity.
Types of Passbook
There are multiple types of passbook available to customers. Mentioned below are some of the different types of passbooks available to customers-
- Savings Passbook: This is one of the most common types of passbook that is used for savings account. Under the savings passbook, you can view all the records of banking transactions including deposits and withdrawals.
- Current account passbook: This type of passbook is generally used by businesses. The current account passbook offers transaction details such as transfer, withdrawal or interest earned.
- Fixed deposit passbook: The fixed deposit passbook contains record of banking transaction such as initial deposit, interest earned and the maturity date of fixed deposit.
- Recurring deposit passbook: Under recurring deposit passbook, customers can view the amount deposited at regular intervals, maturity date and interest earned during a period of time.

How to Apply for New Passbook
If you want to apply for new passbook, follow the below mentioned steps-
Step 1: Visit the nearest branch of your bank in which you hold the bank account.
Step 2: Ask the bank official for a passbook application form.
Step 3: Fill the application form mentioning all the details required.
Step 4: You will be required to submit application form along with documents as required by the bank.
Step 5: After you have submitted the form, the bank official will verify your details and will process your request. After successful verification, you will be issued a new passbook.
Passbook Printer
A passbook printer refers to a specific type of electronic printer that prints data and information in the passbook. The passbook printer prints transaction details such as transaction type, amount, balance and others. Customers can use the passbook printers to update their passbook in real time.
Advantages of Using Passbook
There are several advantages of using a passbook:
- Passbooks are easy to use as they do not require any technical knowledge to operate and can be easily accessible.
- Passbook can easily be carried around because they are lightweight and small in size.
- It provides a detailed record of banking transactions made through that bank account.
- From security point of view, it is physically stored with customer. This, thereby decreases the risk of fraud or hacking that is possible with online banking.
- Using a passbook does not usually incur any additional charges or fees, unlike some electronic banking methods that may have fees associated with them.
- Passbooks can help promote financial discipline and responsibility as customers can see their account balance and transactions in real-time.
Disadvantages of Passbook
Some of the disadvantages of having a passbook are mentioned below-
- Limited access: The passbook has a limited access. This means it can only be updated in the bank branch. This makes inconvenient for the customers to regularly visit the branch for passbook updation.
- Limited information: Passbooks offers limited information such as amount, date and transaction type. It does not provide additional information such as name of the merchant or location of the transaction, and others.
- Delayed updates: Passbook may take time to update when the customer fails to visit the bank branch on regular basis.
CIF Number in Passbook
CIF stands for Customer Information File that is unique to each customer assigned by a bank or financial institution. The CIF number consists of 11-digit number that is used for identifying and tracking the customer’s account and information. The CIF number is used to identify and track the customer’s account and other relevant information. It is usually a 11-digit number, although the length of the CIF number may vary depending on the bank. The CIF number may be printed on the front or back cover of the passbook, or on one of the pages inside the passbook.
Also, check other bank’s Passbook details in the below table:
Passbook : FAQs
A passbook is a physical document that contains all the records of banking transaction made through customer’s bank account.
A passbook specifically contains information related to transaction history, date and time of transaction, withdrawals, deposits, transfers and many more.
To avail passbook, you need to have a bank account with the concerned bank. In some cases bank may issue the passbook itself, while others may require you to apply for passbook.
No, banks do not update passbooks online. You are required to visit the bank’s branch to get passbook your passbook updated.
No. Passbooks are only used to record the transaction made on the account. They cannot be used to make transactions.
You need to inform your bank immediately and request for passbook replacement.
CIF Number stands for Customer Information File.