When you open a Public Provident Fund account in any bank, they derive similar interest outcomes to a post office PPF account. Still post office PPF services are popular due to their greater accessibility across rural areas.

Additionally, urban citizens also reach out to post offices due to their dedicated public service backed by the Government. Whether you choose to have a PPF account with your preferred bank or post office you can register online by visiting their official website. To gather clarity on PPF in bank vs post office, keep on reading this post.

1. Online Method

If you are an existing customer of a particular bank, follow these steps to complete the PPF account registration:

Step 1: Log into your bank account using the mobile net banking app. Make sure your Aadhaar linked mobile number is already linked to that account otherwise you will not receive an OTP that will be sent during the PPF account opening process.

Step 2: After logging into the account search for 'Public Provident Fund' under the 'Offers' tab.

Step 3: Under this head provide the necessary information. Also, if the Aadhaar card is not linked to the bank savings account, link it first otherwise you cannot proceed to the next step. 

Step 4: Next transfer the initial funds from the linked savings account and wait for the account opening confirmation text.

2. Offline Method

For offline PPF application process, you should follow these points:

• Visit the bank where you wish to open a PPF account. You must hold a savings account with this bank from before. 
• Ask for the application form, fill it out, attach the required documents and make the initial deposit, a minimum of ₹500. 

When you execute these steps, the officials open a PPF account immediately and hand over the passbook.

1. Online Method

First, you have to visit the home branch as per your residential address, fill the DOP application form and submit the requested documents. Once the internet banking gets activated, you can request to open a PPF account following these steps:

Step 1: Visit the official portal of Indian Postal Service and log in to your savings account using user ID and set password.

Step 2: Navigate to the ‘General Services’ tab and choose the option – ‘Service Requests’. Next, you find the option ‘PPF Accounts’ under the head ‘New Requests’. Click on it. 

Step 3: Click on ‘Open a PPF Account’.

Step 4: Now you have to confirm the savings account with which the PPF account is going to be linked.

Step 5: Finally, click on ‘Submit’. A transaction ID is forwarded to the phone number registered with the savings account. After you enter it, click on ‘Submit’ again. 

Once you complete the process, store the receipt of deposited money safely until the amount is credited to your PPF account. Once the account activates and the money gets reflected you can view the same under the ‘Accounts’ tab.

2. Offline Method

It is necessary to discuss the traditional method of applying for a PPF account in a post office as many people still find it more convincing due to real-time guidance from postal workers.

If you wish to apply offline, do the following:

• Visit the home branch and collect the PPF account application form.
• Procure the requisite KYC documents along with 2 passport-size photographs and attach them with the duly filled application form.
• While submitting these papers at your nearest branch you would need to deposit some initial amount. It can be any sum between ₹500 and ₹70,000 but annually you can deposit a maximum of ₹1.5 Lakhs. 

The recipient official immediately opens an account and hands over the passbook. For any details related to the account, you can always revisit the branch and ask for help.