CAMS and KFintech: The Registrars Behind Your Mutual Funds

A registrar and transfer agent, or RTA, is a company that maintains the official records of who owns how many units in each mutual fund scheme. It is registered with SEBI and works on behalf of the fund house.

When you invest, redeem or change details, the RTA updates the records. Our page on who regulates mutual funds explains how the different parties fit together.

Each fund house appoints one registrar for all its schemes. Most fund houses in India use either CAMS or KFintech. Your account statement or the fund house website will tell you which one handles your funds.

If you hold funds from several fund houses, some may be with CAMS and others with KFintech.

• Process purchases, SIPs, switches and redemptions.
• Send account statements and transaction confirmations.
• Update bank account, address, email and mobile number.
• Record and change nominations.
• Process transmission claims after an investor dies.
• Issue capital gains statements for tax filing.

Your folio number is the account number the registrar uses for your holdings with a fund house. Statements from the registrar show every transaction in that folio.

Our page on the folio explains how folios work.

Because the two main registrars together handle most fund houses, they jointly offer the consolidated account statement, or CAS, which shows all your mutual fund holdings across fund houses in one document, linked to your PAN.

Our page on the consolidated account statement explains how to request it.

The registrars also run a joint platform called MF Central, which lets you view holdings and make service requests for funds handled by either registrar, using one login.

It is useful for updating details across many folios at once. Our page on how to track your portfolio explains how to use these tools.

If your bank account changes, you need to update it with the registrar for each folio, usually with a cancelled cheque or bank statement. This is important, because redemptions are paid only to the registered bank account.

Our post on updating your bank account walks through the process.

You can add or change nominees for your folios through the registrar portals or forms. Make sure every folio has a nominee.

Our page on nomination explains why this matters.

When an investor passes away, the nominee or legal heir submits a transmission request to the registrar with the required documents. The registrar verifies and moves the units into the claimant name.

Our page on what happens to a SIP after death explains the steps.

At tax time, you can download a capital gains statement from the registrar, showing gains and losses on redemptions for the year. This helps you or your tax adviser file returns correctly.

Our page on the capital gains statement explains how to get it.

Both registrars have service centres in many cities, including Indore, where you can submit forms in person. This is helpful for investors who prefer paper forms or need help with documents.

Our page on investing offline explains how paper-based investing works.

The registrar keeps records and processes requests. It does not recommend funds or tell you when to buy or sell. For that, you would speak to a distributor or an investment adviser.

Fraudsters sometimes pretend to be from a registrar or fund house. Never share your OTP, password or PIN with anyone who calls you. Use only the official websites and apps, typed directly in your browser, not links from unknown messages.

If you are unsure whether a message is real, check with the registrar through its official contact details.

The registrar can only reach you if your email, mobile number and address are current. If any change, update them across all folios, ideally through MF Central or the registrar portals.

Old details are one of the main reasons people lose track of investments. Our page on finding unclaimed investments explains how to trace forgotten folios.

• Change mobile or email: online through the registrar portal or MF Central, after OTP verification.
• Change bank account: with a request form and proof of the new account.
• Add or change nominee: online or through a form.
• Get a statement: download from the portal or request by email.
• Stop or pause a SIP: through the portal, the fund house or your distributor.

Most requests are processed within a few working days.

If a request is taking too long, contact the registrar through its official customer service channels with your folio number and request reference. If it is still not resolved, you can escalate to the fund house, and then through SEBI complaint channels.

Our page on how to complain about a mutual fund explains the steps.

Not necessarily. Many investors handle everything through their distributor or the fund house, and never log in to a registrar portal. But knowing how registrars work helps you check records yourself, update details quickly, and act if something goes wrong.

• CAMS and KFintech keep the records of your units.
• They process transactions, statements and service requests.
• MF Central covers both in one place.
• Keep your details updated and never share OTPs.

We are distributors rather than investment advisers and we recommend no schemes. If you need help with registrar paperwork, get in touch.