Capital markets have consistently remained an attractive investment option for those looking for high returns. Financial awareness about the profit potential of capital markets coupled with lower yields from traditional investment options has led to a growing interest in capital market investment in the recent past.
The interest in the capital markets is evident with the highest number of Demat accounts opened in the year 2020-21 which broke all the records in the history of the capital markets. However, it is never too late to start investing in the capital market if you want to earn higher returns than other financial instruments.
Before you start investing, there are a few fundamental processes and terms you should know. It is important to understand how to transfer money from a Demat account to a bank account, transfer shares between two Demat accounts, and withdraw funds to be sent back to your bank account to ensure that your investment journey is hassle-free. But first, you need to open a Demat account. After opening an account, you must know how to transfer funds from a Demat account to the bank account and vice versa.
What is a Demat account?
A Demat account is a digital account that holds the securities you buy virtually. Just as your bank account stores your money, your Demat account holds your shares, securities, bonds, mutual funds, and other assets. However, these are held digitally or as electronic copies in a dematerialised form. Dematerialization makes the process of virtually holding securities safe, easier, and convenient to transact once you start trading.
You can quickly invest in capital markets online as well as hold, monitor and trade seamlessly using a Demat account. One way to visualise this is to compare this to a godown where a businessman who sells detergent soaps stores the stock received from the manufacturer to sell it further to retail stores. Similarly, your Demat account holds your securities until you sell them to a buyer.
Along with a Demat account, you also need to open a trading account to buy and sell securities. A Trading Account acts as a bridge between the Demat and the bank account. A trading account reflects cash flow-debit or credit, unlike a Demat account which acts as a storage space for your securities.
Opening a Demat Account
- To open a Demat account, visit the website of your preferred Depository Participants (DP). The list is available on the websites of Central Depository Services Ltd and National Securities Depository Ltd.
- Fill out the account opening form and provide the required documents on proof of address/identity.
- You will receive an agreement to sign. This agreement will provide the details regarding your rights and duties as an investor/DP.
- You will receive an agreement to sign. This agreement will provide the details regarding your rights and duties as an investor/DP.
- You will receive an agreement to sign. This agreement will provide the details regarding your rights and duties as an investor/DP.
How does a Demat account function?
Whenever you want to buy or sell a stock, a Depository participant places a request to the stock exchange for the same in your trading account.
If you have placed a request to buy, the stock exchange identifies a seller who has placed an order to sell a specific quantity of shares you are selling. Once a seller is identified, depositories issue orders to the clearance houses to debit shares from the Demat account of the seller and credit it to you, the buyer. However, the sale proceeds are credited to the trading account linked with your Demat account within T+2 days after you sell the securities. You can then transfer the money to your bank account once it is reflected in your trading account.
Transferring money from the Demat account to your bank account
With a plethora of payment options available, you can easily transfer money from your Demat account to your bank account after selling some of your held securities. The entire process is online and hence paperless. You can do it conveniently on your mobile, tablet, or laptop.
Here are a few easy to follow steps to transfer money from your Demat account to your bank account:
- Log in to your IIFL trading account linked to your Demat account. Go to the ‘funds’ or ‘accounts’ section and click on it.
- You will be presented with two options- add funds or withdraw funds.
- To initiate the transfer of money from the Demat account to the bank account, click ‘withdraw funds’.
- The account will display the total amount in your trading account. You will be asked about the amount of money you wish to transfer. Remember that you can only transfer the money received after the sale of securities in the Demat account.
- Each brokerage house will indicate the fund limit as per the trading leverage. This depends on the funds added to the trading account and your Demat account holdings. However, the fund limit does not equal the amount you can transfer.
- Enter the amount you wish to transfer and enter the bank account details. To initiate the transfer, enter your trading password. The amount will be credited to your bank account depending on your chosen mode of transfer.
Things to keep in mind while transferring funds
When you want to transfer money from a Demat account to a bank account or vice versa, you must keep the following information in mind:
- You can make all transfers from the Demat account to the bank account through the trading account. Demat account does not directly hold the money, it holds only the purchased securities. When you sell these securities, the money is credited to your trading account. Hence, a trading account is used to transfer the money credited in this process.
- Only the money earned by selling securities can be transferred and thereby, encashed.
- Do not mistake your fund limit for the money that can be transferred. Fund limit is the money lent to you based on your current holdings that you can spend on buying securities. This is not the amount that can be transferred to a bank account.
- Most brokerages accept all major payment methods, including online payments, UPI, NEFT/RTGS etc. The procedure of transfer is also similar across brokerages.
Conclusion
Transferring funds from your Demat account to the bank account or vice versa is hassle-free, quick, and convenient. You just need to log in to your Demat account, select whether you want to add or withdraw money and enter the amount and trading password. The transfer is initiated and will be credited to or debited from your bank account.
You can opt for IIFL’s trading and Demat account, one of India’s best Demat accounts that allows safe and secure transactions in capital markets. Build a solid investment portfolio for your future and grow your earnings by opening a Demat account today.
