How to Know Demat Account Number

Before we explore how to know the Demat account number, let’s take a closer look at what is a Demat account. For starters, a Demat account is just like a bank account. The primary difference between a bank account and a Demat account is that a Demat account is used to hold the shares and securities of an investor in an electronic format. 

A Demat account or Dematerialized account facilitates the holding of shares and securities in an electronic format. With a Demat account, an investor no longer needs to worry about the complex paperwork involved in investing. As the need to store physical records of investment documents is eliminated, the risk of losing valuable papers reduces to a great deal. In addition, a Demat account reduces the overall transaction expenses incurred by investors, besides enabling them to work from anywhere. Demat accounts also allow the immediate transfer of securities, saving time and money for investors. Did you know that an investor needs only one Demat account to hold equity and debt investments? These are some of the perks that an investor enjoys on having a Demat account in place.

Now that we have understood what a Demat account is, let’s move on to understanding your Demat account number.

What is a Demat Account Number?

Your Demat account number is a combination of your Depository Participant Identification (DP ID) and your customer ID. Typically, the first 8 digits of your Demat account number are your DP ID and the last 8 digits are the customer ID of the account holder. Once you have opened a Demat account through a Depository Participant (DP), you’ll receive a unique account number called a Beneficiary Owner Identification Number (BOID) that will be used in the future for all transactions.

Simply put, every Demat account will have its own unique 16-digit Demat number assigned by the DP to the Demat account holder. Once you open your Demat account, you will receive a welcome letter from the depository, such as the Central Depository Services Limited (CDSL) or the National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL). This letter will contain all the account information, including the Demat account number. The Beneficiary Owner ID or BOID is also known as the Demat account number.

Which are the two Demat account number formats?

• CDSL Demat account number: If the depository is CDSL, your Demat account number or (Beneficiary Owner) BO ID will be a 16-digit number. An example of a Demat account number for CDSL can be 0987654321234567.
• 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’. An example of a Demat number for NSDL can be IN78909876543210.

Importance of Demat Account Number

You get a Demat account number only after your Demat account’s successful verification. It means your Demat account number represents you and vice-versa. Having a Demat account number is one of the primary requirements to trade online. A Trading account is another mandatory requirement for carrying out online trading, which can be done with a trading account app.

Additional Read: Can I Trade without a Demat Account?

One of the integral aspects of a Demat account is its number. Since it is a unique code, it helps your DP to identify you and effectively manage your portfolio. If you hold multiple Demat accounts, this number helps you to separate all your Demat accounts based on the DP and systematically organize your portfolio. Additionally, you can also verify your DP’s registration status with a Central Depository through your Demat account number.

What is DP ID?

Depository Participant (DP) is an intermediatory between the investor and the depositories. There are mainly two depositaries in India – Central Depositories Services Limited (CDSL) and National Securities Depositories Limited (NSDL). You can get your Demat Account registered with either of them.

A DP could be a Bank, Non-Banking Financial Institute, or stockbroker. The DP holds your Demat Account and allows you to do trading. Besides, holding your securities securely a DP offers various financial services as well. The DP charges for the Demat Account opening and its services.

DP ID is the Depository Participant Identification, a unique assigned to every DP by the CDSL or the NSDL. The ID also forms a part of your Demat Account number. 

What is Customer ID?

As the name suggests, the Customer ID is the identification number assigned to every customer/investor. Similar to DP ID the Customer ID makes up a part of your Demat Account number. Make sure you enter all account number digits correctly. A small error and the shares will end up getting credited into the wrong Demat Account.

Know your Demat Account number

On the successful opening of your Demat Account, you receive a welcome letter from the concerned depository. The letter includes all the details about the type of account you hold and the account number.

The stockbroker must be registered with either or both NSDL and CDSL. You can know if your account is with CDSL or NSDL from your demat account number.

How to find Demat account number?

Cracking your Demat account number is simple. It is a combination of the DP ID and your customer ID. Before you understand how to check your Demat account number, you need to remember that the Demat account number and DP ID are not the same.

The DP ID is a number allocated by the CDSL and NSDL to your depository participant, such as a brokerage firm or other financial institutions such as a bank. It is also important to note that the numbering format of a Demat account varies in the case of both CDSL and NSDL, as mentioned above.

Now let us move forward to decoding your Demat account number. It is a combination of your DP ID and your customer ID.  If you are wondering how to find your Demat account number, here is an easy way to find out. In the case of CDSL, let’s say your Demat account number is 0987654321234567. In this case, the first 8 digits – 09876543, is your DP ID and the last 8 digits – 21234567, is your customer ID. Similarly, for NSDL, if your Demat account number is IN78909876543210, in that case, IN789098 is the DP ID and 76543210 is your customer ID.

If you are an ICICI Direct account holder, you can check your Demat account number after logging into your Trading account. Just visit the Demat Allocation Section or click your name on top of the website to know your Demat account number.

Additional Read: Points to Remember When Operating a Demat Account

Conclusion

The Demat account number is an important element in your investment journey, just like your bank account number. Your DP gives you this number only after your verification. In a way, it is the face of all your portfolio holdings. To facilitate the trading process, your DP associates your Demat account number with your Bank account number and your Trading account number (if you have a Trading account. Hence, you must have complete knowledge about your Demat account number and ensure it does not fall in the wrong hands.

Additional Read: Have a Demat Account? Look for these four things to avoid losses!

Additional Read: How many Demat Accounts can one have?

Additional Read: Know How to Convert Demat to BSDA

FAQs

    1.How can I get my 16-digit Demat account number?

Once you open a Demat account, you receive a welcome letter/email from the Central depository (NSDL or CDSL). It contains essential details about your Demat account, including your 16-digit Demat account number. This Demat account number is given to you by your DP only after your Demat account’s successful verification.

    2. Where can I find my Demat account?

You will find your Demat account number in the Welcome letter you receive from the Central depository on opening your Demat account. Alternatively, you can also find it in your Trading account, if your Demat account and Trading account are linked.

    3. How can I know my Demat number in ICICI Direct?

If you are an ICICI Direct account holder, you can check your Demat account number after logging into your Trading account. Just visit the Demat Allocation Section or click your name on top of the website to know your Demat account number.

    4. Are client ID and Demat account numbers the same?

No, client ID and Demat account number are not the same. These are two different codes that hold high importance in your trading process.

The client or customer ID is a unique identification code allotted to you by your DP. However, a Demat account number is a combination of the customer ID and the DP ID. The DP ID is a unique code allocated to the Depository Participants such as registered brokers, banks, etc. by the Central Depositories, namely, CDSL or NSDL.

   5. Is it safe to share the Demat account number?

Ideally, you must not share your Demat account number with anyone. Through your Demat account number, it is found out the customer ID of your Demat Account. And since login credentials like the customer ID are a security check, it must be confidential to you. Your Demat account may hold valuables such as shares, bonds, and other securities. Hence, you must ensure its safety, as these days, account hacking, mismanagement of accounts, unauthorized transactions, etc. is becoming a common phenomenon.