Key Differences Between Nodal, Escrow and Current Account for Small Businesses

(Last Updated On: October 20, 2023)

Businesses and personal accounts differ. This is why you need to know whether you need a  nodal, escrow and current account for your small business. 

The internet era has shifted businesses online. For online small businesses running an e-commerce platform, money moves across different networks. From customers to vendors, partners etc, e-commerce payments are a complex process. 

This is why your business will need a nodal, escrow or current account. 

A nodal, escrow and current account help businesses handle the complex payments that online businesses take care of. Nodal and escrow accounts are used to hold third-party amounts for settlements.

What is nodal account? 

A Nodal account is a special purpose account, mandated by the Reserve Bank of India, used by businesses that act as intermediaries. An intermediary business is one that collects money online from customers on behalf of the vendors.

The qualification criteria can vary quite a bit, covering factors like the amount of money you invest, your business’s reputation, and how many transactions you plan to handle.

You’ll also need to provide all the necessary Know Your Customer (KYC) documents and commit to following strict compliance rules, including regular audits as required by the Payments and Settlements Systems Act of 2007.

In the context of nodal accounts in India, here are the important terms to understand:

Intermediary

An intermediary is a financial institution or entity that acts as an intermediary between multiple parties, facilitating the flow of funds and ensuring compliance.

Intermediaries in India may include payment aggregators, payment gateway providers, and other financial intermediaries.

They often use nodal accounts to manage and disburse funds to various beneficiaries or merchants.

Settlement cycle

The settlement cycle in the context of nodal accounts in India refers to the timeline for the settlement and clearance of financial transactions.

The settlement cycle can vary depending on the specific use case and industry.

For instance, in payment processing and electronic transactions, settlements are often done in near real-time or within a matter of days, while in other financial contexts, such as securities trading, it may follow a T+3 (transaction date plus three business days) settlement cycle.

Debit

Debit is associated with the movement of funds out of the account. Debits occur when funds are withdrawn, transferred, or disbursed from the nodal account to the intended beneficiaries or recipients.

This can include various transactions like vendor payments, customer refunds, or settlements with merchants.

Features of nodal account

• In India, a nodal account holds third party amounts for settlements.
• Businesses can create nodal accounts through specific nodal banks.
• Nodal accounts act as a temporary vault to store and distribute money to merchants. 
• You cannot withdraw cash from this account. 

Why do small businesses need a nodal account? 

Nodal account enforces the ‘trust factor’ for businesses when it comes to timely payouts. Since small businesses have multiple networks to which they need to pay money, Nodal accounts ensure timely payouts to all vendors, keeping in sync with the payment cycle. Instamojo is a nodal account.

Fortunately, you do not need to go through the long process of opening your own nodal account if you have an account on Instamojo. Just create an account on the website, integrate your payment gateway, and you will take care of your payouts.

What is escrow account? 

During a transaction, a third party holds an escrow account on behalf of the buyer and seller until it is completed.

The escrow arrangement holds the funds until it receives written or oral instructions or until the party involved fulfils its obligations.

Any bank can open escrow accounts. Businesses engaged in real estate typically use escrow accounts.

Features of an escrow account

• A temporary account as it operates until the completion of a transaction process. 
• Escrow account reduces the risk involved when a buyer is completely unknown to the seller.  
• Escrow account payouts are transparent and secure – this helps keep a better record of transactions and eases the auditing process. 

Why does a small business need an escrow account? 

An escrow account is very useful with large volume transactions.  An escrow account consists of pre-requisites all parties must meet. 

For example, a buyer might want quality assurance of the product before making a payment, and the seller doesn’t want to extend a work without any assurance that he or she will receive payment. 

What is current account? 

A current account is the most common business account. Therefore, businesses that carry out large volume bank transactions use current account to carry out transactions.

Features of a current account

• A current account is a bank account for easy business transactions. Businesses will not earn any interest from this account.
• No limit on the number of transactions with current account for small businesses
• Businesses can overdraw the balance to meet your short term fund requirements.

Why do businesses need a current account?

If your small businesses engage in large payments on a regular basis, then a current account is ideal for your business. Also, you can use your current account for reflecting your business income and related expenses. This is an ideal way to segregate your business and personal finances.

Also, a current account boosts your business creditworthiness. Cheque book facilities, internet banking and mobile banking are the basic and common services that you get with each bank account. Finally, current bank accounts offer benefits such as:

• Free pay orders/demand drafts
• Instant NEFT/RTGS facilities
• Multi-location transfers
• Free inward remittance

If your business has not made up its mind yet, we recommend creating an account of Instamojo. It is simple, and you receive your payouts on time, always. We have also introduced faster payouts for your business to meet its daily goals.

Check out our detailed guide here on how to collect payments online with Instamojo. 

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