What is MICR code 788024008 and where is it printed on my cheque?

MICR code 788024008 is the 9-digit magnetic ink code assigned by the Reserve Bank of India to the Cachar Region branch of Punjab National Bank in Cachar, Assam. On your cheque leaf, it is printed in the MICR band at the very bottom — the row of numbers in magnetic E-13B ink below the signature line. It appears as the second group of digits on that line, between the cheque number (leftmost) and the account number (rightmost). The magnetic ink allows high-speed MICR readers at RBI clearing houses to read and process the code even on worn, damp, or partially damaged cheques.

How do I use MICR code 788024008 to register a SIP mandate for a mutual fund?

To register a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) mandate using MICR code 788024008: (1) Fill in the NACH mandate form provided by your mutual fund house or AMC. (2) Enter 788024008 in the "MICR Code" field — this identifies your Punjab National Bank Cachar Region branch to the clearing network. (3) Fill in your account number, account type (Savings/Current), and the monthly SIP debit amount. (4) Submit the signed form to the fund house, or upload it via e-NACH if the AMC supports digital mandates. Paper mandates typically take 20–30 days to activate. Once active, the SIP amount is auto-debited on the specified date each month via NACH — no further action is needed from you.

Why would a NACH or ECS auto-debit using MICR 788024008 be rejected?

Common reasons for NACH or ECS rejection when using MICR code 788024008: (1) Wrong MICR code — entering a code from a different Punjab National Bank branch or a completely different bank. (2) Account number mismatch — the account number on the mandate form does not match the bank's records for this branch. (3) Signature mismatch — the mandate signature differs from your bank records. (4) Insufficient balance on the scheduled debit date. (5) Account closed, dormant, or frozen. (6) Mandate not yet active — paper NACH mandates take 20–30 days to register; a debit attempted during this window will fail. If your mandate is rejected, the lender or fund house receives a return code and will contact you to resubmit with corrected details. Bounce charges may apply.

How long does it take for a cheque drawn on Cachar Region to clear through CTS?

Cheques drawn on the Cachar Region branch of Punjab National Bank — carrying MICR code 788024008 — clear in T+1 working days under the RBI's Cheque Truncation System (CTS). A cheque deposited on Monday will generally be cleared and the funds credited by Tuesday. Cheques deposited on Fridays clear by the following Monday, as clearing houses do not operate on weekends. The CTS works on scanned cheque images — no physical paper moves between banks after the initial deposit, which is what enables same-day-next-day clearing nationwide. High-value cheques above ₹50,000 may occasionally take T+2 working days due to additional scrutiny.

What CTS grid zone does MICR 788024008 belong to, and what does that mean?

The first 3 digits of MICR code 788024008 — 788 — identify the CTS clearing zone for Cachar. The RBI operates three major CTS grid zones: North India (clearing house: New Delhi), South India (Chennai), and West India (Mumbai). Every cheque deposited anywhere in India is routed to the clearing house responsible for the drawer branch's zone — not the branch where the cheque was deposited. This means a cheque from Punjab National Bank Cachar Region deposited in another city will still be processed through the appropriate CTS grid within one business day. The CTS zone also determines which physical clearing house holds this branch's settlement account.

MICR Code 788024008 — Cachar Region, Punjab National Bank, Cachar

About MICR Code 788024008 — Cachar Region, Punjab National Bank

MICR code 788024008 is the official 9-digit magnetic ink code assigned by the Reserve Bank of India to the Cachar Region branch of Punjab National Bank located in Cachar, Assam. This code is printed at the bottom of every cheque issued by this branch using magnetic E-13B ink that can be read by high-speed MICR readers at RBI clearing houses. MICR codes are used exclusively for paper-based and mandate-based transactions — cheque clearing, ECS auto-debit, NACH mandates for SIP mutual funds, and loan EMI setup. The branch participates in the Cheque Truncation System (CTS) — the electronic clearing network that processes cheques within one banking day without requiring physical movement of paper cheques between banks.

Understanding MICR Code 788024008

The 9-digit code 788024008 breaks down into three segments: 788 is the city code identifying the Cachar CTS clearing zone, 024 is the bank code identifying Punjab National Bank within that zone, and 008 is the branch code uniquely assigned to the Cachar Region branch. No other branch in India shares this exact 9-digit combination. When a cheque drawn on this branch is deposited anywhere in India, the CTS system reads these three segments to instantly route the clearing request to the correct clearing house, bank, and branch — entirely automatically, without any human intervention.

How to Use MICR Code 788024008 for Mandates and Cheque Payments

MICR code 788024008 is required whenever a payment or mandate process involves paper instruments or automated debit authorisations from your Punjab National Bank Cachar Region account. Unlike IFSC codes — which are used for digital transfers like NEFT and RTGS — the MICR code is specifically required for the following processes:

SIP Registration (Mutual Funds): When setting up a Systematic Investment Plan via a NACH mandate, the form asks for your bank's MICR code. Enter 788024008 to register your Punjab National Bank Cachar Region account for monthly SIP debits. Both paper NACH mandates and digital e-NACH flows may require this code. Paper mandates take 20–30 days to activate; e-NACH activates within 2–3 working days.
ECS Mandates (Utility Bills, Insurance): ECS (Electronic Clearing Service) auto-debits for electricity, gas, broadband, and insurance premiums require the MICR code of your bank branch. The MICR code tells the biller's bank which CTS zone and branch to debit on each due date. Use 788024008 when setting up any recurring ECS debit from your Cachar Region account.
Loan EMI Auto-Debit (NACH Mandate): When signing a NACH mandate for home loan, personal loan, car loan, or NBFC EMI repayment, the lender's mandate form requires your account branch's MICR code to register the monthly debit. Use 788024008 for any loan EMI mandates linked to your Punjab National Bank Cachar Region account.
Post-Dated Cheques (PDC): If a lender or landlord asks for post-dated cheques as security, MICR code 788024008 is already pre-printed at the bottom of your Punjab National Bank cheque book issued by this branch. Verify the MICR on the cheque matches before handing over PDCs — if you have accounts at multiple Punjab National Bank branches, each has a different MICR.
Insurance Premium Collection: Life insurance, health insurance, and general insurance companies collect premiums via NACH mandates. The mandate form will have a dedicated MICR field — enter 788024008 to link your Cachar Region account for automatic premium collection on each policy anniversary.

About Punjab National Bank in Cachar

Punjab National Bank operates multiple branches across Cachar, Assam, each assigned a unique MICR code by the RBI for the Cachar CTS clearing zone. The Cachar Region branch serves customers in the local area with full cheque clearing, savings and current account services, and mandate-based auto-debit facilities including SIP, ECS, and NACH. All cheques issued by this branch carry MICR code 788024008 at the bottom in magnetic ink.

To find MICR codes for other Punjab National Bank branches in Cachar, use the Punjab National Bank branches in Cachar directory. For branches across Assam, browse the Punjab National Bank Assam page. To view all Punjab National Bank branches nationwide, visit the Punjab National Bank MICR code directory.

How the RBI CTS System Processes Cheques Using MICR 788024008

When you deposit a cheque issued by Punjab National Bank's Cachar Region branch anywhere in India, the following automated CTS process occurs — enabled entirely by MICR code 788024008:

Scanning: The receiving bank scans the deposited cheque and reads the MICR band at the bottom using a high-speed MICR reader.
Zone routing: The first 3 digits (788) identify the Cachar CTS clearing zone and route the clearing request to the correct RBI clearing house — regardless of which city the cheque was deposited in.
Bank identification: Digits 4–6 (024) identify Punjab National Bank within the Cachar zone, directing the debit request to the correct bank's processing system.
Branch debit: Digits 7–9 (008) identify the Cachar Region branch specifically, enabling the system to locate the payer's account and process the debit without manual intervention.
Settlement: Funds settle electronically between banks within T+1 working days. No physical cheque needs to travel between banks after the initial deposit.

This is why the MICR code must be exact. Even a single wrong digit causes the cheque to be returned unpaid — resulting in bounce penalties, mandate rejection fees, and settlement delays. BankZop verifies all MICR codes against official RBI CTS records.

Verify Before You Submit — Common MICR Mistakes

Wrong cheque book from a different branch: If you hold accounts at multiple Punjab National Bank branches, each branch's cheque book carries a different MICR code. Always verify the MICR on your cheque matches the account branch before submitting any mandate or PDC.
Old cheque book after a branch migration or merger: If your account was moved to a different branch following a bank merger or branch consolidation, your old cheque book carries the previous branch's MICR. Get a new cheque book from your current branch and verify on BankZop before using it for NACH mandates.
Handwritten MICR on mandate forms: Some mandate forms allow handwritten entry. Always copy the exact 9-digit code from a verified cheque or from BankZop — never estimate or guess. A single transposed digit will cause mandate activation failure.
Submitting a NACH mandate before the activation period: Paper NACH mandates take 20–30 days to activate after submission. A lender attempting to debit your account before activation will receive a rejection — and you may incur return charges. Track your mandate activation status with your bank.

For further reference, explore our IFSC Code Lookup for online transfer codes (NEFT, RTGS, IMPS, UPI), the BSR Code Lookup for TDS and income tax challan codes, and the PIN Code Lookup for postal delivery information. Use our EMI Calculator to plan your loan repayments before applying.

MICR Code for Cachar Region — Punjab National Bank

Cachar Region