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I used to access my EPF passbook via the Umang app, as the website never takes my password, including after changing the password (to give them the benefit of doubt that I have forgotten the password).

However, since the last few days, am unable to access the passbook via Umang as well, as I keep getting a server error.

Is anyone facing the same issue too?

I believe the PPF e-Statement should be sufficient by itself. It does clearly mention the Maturity Date, -- and like all bank e-Statements, it also says:

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Because it is called Post master cheque. Essentially it is not a 'at par' cheque and can only be encashed at the branch of issuance I.e. where that circle post master has account. So even other banks where you have accept it, they need to send it to that issuing branch. Private banks were not inclined to do that. SBI may have accepted as they may regularly deal with that branch.

Post office is living in stone age and our experience is also terrible. My close relative passed away with SCSS investment with multiple post offices. It was a nightmare to run around to close them and get the money encashed like the same cheque mentioned above, all of this with proper documents like death and legal heir certificate.

When was the chequebook issued? Pre-CTS days?


This is not true in general anymore! The Post Offices are trying to catch up, but slowly. I suspect that all post offices have not converted to CBS branches yet, and pre-CTS P.O. cheques are still in circulation, giving rise to clearing problems like above.

I had opened a POSB account in a CBS branch in 2019, and was issued a CTS chequebook like those from the banks.

Just a couple of weeks back (in the first week of April) I deposited one cheque each in HDFC and SBI. Both cleared the very next day.

I was, however, advised by the post master himself to not trust electronic transfers (like RTGS, NEFT, IMPS) and go with the age-old cheque deposits. His reasoning was, if something happened to go wrong with an electronic transfer, recovering the money could turn into a nightmare, since the staff were not properly trained! -- I listened to him.
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This happened in April 2023 at Vijayanagar PO, Bangalore. My father first deposited the cheque at HDFC Bank in Vijayanagar. A few days later, I got a call from the bank to take back the cheque, and then I dropped the cheque in ICICI Bank, which was again rejected by the bank. Finally, I called up the staff at SBI, Bilekahalli, and dropped the heavily scribbled cheque at SBI. I am thankful to the branch manager who accepted the cheque, and thus my PPF account was closed.

I am not talking about the cheque book that is given to customers with POSB. It is your own money and regular cheque.

This is about the settlement cheque issued by the Post master (Tambaram and Anna Nagar in Chennai which is not rural) for the nominee. Our own SBI branches itself advised to visit the branch that issued the cheque. When I raised my voice, Anna Nagar one accepted and sent it to that branch which is just next street and credited to the account. When we encashed the other one, I was told by the branch manager about this and requested to encash it in Tambaram branch where it was issued.

This is from personal experience and I will leave it to your judgement but I made sure my family understands the complications with post office investments.

I'm afraid I misunderstood your post. I didn't know anything about a Postmaster Cheque! Sounds like it's a sort of Banker's Cheque. If so, it's surprising that it was so difficult to encash.

It appears that my post was also misconstrued to be a recommendation for Post Office banking. It was not. It was merely to convey the relative ease of encashing current P.O. CTS cheques.

As for my own satisfaction levels with the P.O. banking, those two cheques originated out of the closure proceeds of a few long-matured NSCs that I had to travel 600 kms to my home branch to encash. It took me 4 days (including one full day and two half-days of standing in queues and running from one desk to another) to complete the process of getting all my money out and end all my relationship with them for good.
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Even by the low standards of government websites, the PF site is bad. Badly designed, badly provisioned and without enough resources or uptime. I have the same issue, sometimes it works, most of the time it doesn't. Not much else to do but keep trying at different times during the day. Recently I had to provide some PF information to my present employer, and some historical data. What should have taken not more than 10 mins on any half-decent website, took 2 days!

This cheque is very different from cheques issued by banks; they print your name on the cheque, but if you opened the PPF account before 2010, then your name format may not match with your bank account format because Aadhar cards were not issued before 2010. So banks will refuse the cheque, as the name may appear in a different order on the postmaster cheque. In my case, the name was printed as per the PAN card on the postmaster cheque, but in the bank account, the name was as per the Aadhar card. Our names were never updated by the post office as per Aadhar card.

True, most e-documents don't need a physical signature, and say so in a disclaimer.

Some people (like my father) are still old school though, and want paper documents with signature/seal on them they can neatly file away for future reference (and their own peace of mind). No harm no foul:)

Possible solutions to the issues highlighted in the previous posts, for the benefit of fellow members facing it in future.


The nominee could have opened a SB account with the same Post Office and sought direct credit of the amount to the SB account. After credit is received, personal cheques from the SB account could be issued to whichever account you desire.



Banks can accept such a cheque, with a declaration from the account holder confirming that both the names pertain to the same person along with the supporting documentation of the PAN card and the Aadhar card confirming the variation.