Thanks to the Demat account, the scale and speed of investing and trading in securities have reached a remarkable level today. The number of investors and traders is gradually increasing because Demat has made investing procedures completely online that is convenient for every individual. There are around 4 crore Demat accounts in India in 2020. This figure shows traditional investors of gold, real estate, and fixed deposits are also moving towards equities and derivatives. Let us find out how a Demat account works and helps you to earn money.
What is Demat Account?
A demat is an online system that allows an investor to store his/her financial securities like stocks, bonds, ETFs, and other securities in electronic form with stockbrokers who are registered with any of two national depositories – NSDL and CDSL. The establishment of depositories and introduction of Demat accounts has reduced the transfer time of securities, lowered transaction fees, eliminated fraud deliveries, risk of delays, and theft, hence, attracted more investors and traders. Before the development of demat accounts, stocks and other financial securities were available in physical form only. Storing securities in physical form was highly risky and unsecured. Hence, demat accounts have made investing and trading more secure and convenient.
How Demat Account Works?
A demat account can be said similar to a savings account where you store cash with a bank. A demat account stores the financial securities of the account holder with a depository participant (DP)/stockbroker registered with the national depository. When you buy a security, it will be credited to your demat account and, when you sell it, it will be debited from your demat account. Savings account, demat account, and trading account, these three accounts must be interlinked for investing and trading activities.
SEBI Regulations
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has made it mandatory to have a demat account if you intend to invest or trade in the stock market. It is mandatory to dematerialize physical securities if you have any. You can open a demat account online for free following an easy process. SEBI makes necessary changes in rules and regulations from time to time such as demat account opening charges. SEBI has mandated the brokers to submit their tariff structure every year to the Depository with which they are registered.
Participants in the account opening process
- Depository
Depositories are NSDL and CSDL. They are responsible to maintain securities in the demat accounts. They hold the demat account on an investor’s behalf.
- Depository participant (DP)
You can open a demat account with DP, called stockbrokers. A DP can be an NBFC, a bank or a brokerage firm, or a one-person company that is registered with the NSDL or CSDL. They act as an intermediary between the depository and the investor.
- Bank
Your savings account should be linked with your demat account. The money to buy securities will be used from your bank account. Your securities will be credited to your demat account.
Depository Participant’s Support
Whenever an individual opens a demat account with a Depository Participant (DP), he is advised to check what services it is offering to their clients.
- Check how well a DP helps you secure your information.
- Check the kind of technology the broker has to keep your account safe.
- The type of resources it offers to beginners.
- What types of securities you can hold in the account.
- How well it educates its clients to earn online and with which type of educational offerings – through videos, podcasts, forums, or financial articles.
A demat account offers the facility of automatic credit of shares, arising out of split/bonus/consolidation etc. It allows you to receive non-cash corporate benefits such as bonuses, rights shares, etc.
So, you have seen how a demat works and it is more beneficial if you open a demat account and trade with the right participant depositors.