Understanding your statement of Demat holdings

Just like a bank account holds cash deposits, FDs, etc., a Demat account is required to hold and trade shares and securities electronically. When money is credited or debited in your bank account, you can cross-verify it by checking your bank statements. Similarly, when you buy or sell shares and securities, you can check your Demat account holding statement for a detailed summary.

A Demat account holding statement provides a summary of all the shares and securities held in your account. It also contains details such as the current value of securities and date of purchase and is important for tax-filing purposes.

What does your statement of Demat holding contain?

Your Demat account holding statement shows the total value of shares and securities in your account. It consists of current, free, locked-in and pledge setup balances. The current balance is the total of all the units you hold, such as stocks, mutual funds, securities, bonds, debentures, and others. Free balance stands for the units in the Demat account that are open to being traded freely. Locked in balance refers to the assets that are not qualified for trading. And your pledge balance shows the assets pledged to a specific beneficiary.

Many investors hold multiple Demat accounts under NSDL or CDSL. A consolidated account summary is an easy way to read the Demat account statement conveniently. It is a record that holds all the transaction and investment details about depository accounts and mutual funds.

Here are some of the key details in a Demat account statement:

• Personal details:

  A Demat holding statement shows personal details, including name, address, and contact number.

• Folio number:

  Every Demat account holder gets a unique identification number, and it cannot match with another person.

• Information about mutual funds:

  This section informs you about the funds you own and the number of units you hold.

• Dividend payment:

  This section displays information when you hold a stock or a mutual fund that pays dividends.

• Transactions summary:

  This section displays all the debit and credit transactions during the selected period.

• Current balance:

  Current balance refers to the securities currently held by you in the Demat account and their value.

• Free balance:

  Free balance refers to securities that are free for trading and transfers.

• Locked-in balance:

  It refers to the currently locked-in securities that are not available for trade or transfer.

• Pledged balance:

  It shows the securities that you sell. These securities can be used only after the pledge is released.

How to view your Demat holding statement?

There are two ways to view your statement of Demat holdings:

• Central depository website:

  There are two major central depositories in India: CDSL and NSDL. All the stockbrokers in India have to register with one of these depositories to maintain the Demat accounts of their customers. First identify the depository with which your broker has opened your Demat account. Then you can download the Demat account statement directly from the depository’s websites. Demat accounts registered with NSDL have 14-digit numbers, whereas those registered with CDSL have 16-digit numbers.

• Broker’s website:

  You can also download your Demat account statement from your broker’s website. You just have to log in to your account and access your holding statement from the dashboard. On m.Stock, the user-friendly interface allows you to view your holdings with just a few clicks.

Importance of monitoring your Demat holdings statement:

You may want to monitor your Demat account holding statement for the following reasons:

• Trade verification:

  Demat holding statements allow you to cross-verify the debit or credit of stocks. If you find an issue with the debit or credit entries, you can seek help from the customer support of your registered broker.

• Eliminates chances of misuse:

  Anything unmonitored for a long period increases the chances of misuse and errors. This also helps verify that your account is secure and helps you manage your portfolio effectively. Hence, it is the right approach to monitor your Demat holdings.

• Determines your net worth:

  Statement of Demat holdings allows you to monitor your net worth and provides a real-time view of your investments and wealth. This information plays an important role and acts as proof of investments to the bank.

• Saves from loss of dividends:

  It’s always a good practice to be aware of dividend-providing stocks and the company's corporate actions. You can always check if you have been credited with the correct dividends for the shares you hold.

Conclusion:

Demat account holding statement provides you with the summary of all the shares and securities you own, the date of purchase, the price at which you have purchased and their current value. It is essential to check your Demat holdings regularly to ensure the shares and securities purchased are transferred to the Demat account on time.