Post Office Savings Bank Act
This section gives the Act’s short title: it may be cited as the Post Office Savings Bank Act.
- Jurisdiction
- Malawi
- Instrument
- Act or statute
- Citation
- Act 40 of 1967
- Version
- 31 Dec 2014
- Language
- en
- Official source
- View official record ↗
Statute overview
About this statute
This section gives the Act’s short title: it may be cited as the Post Office Savings Bank Act. This section defines key terms used in the Act and gives the Postmaster-General power to specify the place of the principal office by notice from time to time. This section establishes the Post Office Savings Bank under the Act and treats earlier accounts in the former Savings Bank as accounts in the new bank. This section sets up the Post Office Savings Bank Board and lays out who sits on it, how meetings work, quorum and voting rules, and what invited attendees may do. The Board is responsible for the policy and general administration of the Savings Bank, and the Postmaster-General must follow the Board’s special or general directions when exercising functions under the Act or regulations.
Search within this statute
Search all stored provisions in this version.
Legal text
Provisions of Post Office Savings Bank Act
Showing 19 of 19
- 1 Verify source ↗
Short title
This section gives the Act’s short title: it may be cited as the Post Office Savings Bank Act.
1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Post Office Savings Bank Act. - 2 Verify source ↗
Interpretation
This section defines key terms used in the Act and gives the Postmaster-General power to specify the place of the principal office by notice from time to time.
2. Interpretation In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires— “ account ” means an account in the Savings Bank ; “ Board ” means the Post Office Savings Bank Board established under section 4 ; “ officer ” means any person employed or assigned in connexion with any business of the department responsible for postal services; “ principal office ” means the principal Office of the Savings Bank situated in such place as the Postmaster-General may by notice, from time to time, specify; [19 of 1993] “ Savings Bank ” means the Post Office Savings Bank deemed to be established under section 3 ; “ Savings Bank year ” means the period of twelve months beginning on the 1st January in any year and ending on the 31st December next following. - 3 Verify source ↗
Establishment of Savings Bank
This section establishes the Post Office Savings Bank under the Act and treats earlier accounts in the former Savings Bank as accounts in the new bank.
3. Establishment of Savings Bank (1) The Post Office Savings Bank of Malawi, hereinafter referred to as the former Savings Bank, subsisting immediately before the commencement of this Act by virtue of the Post Office Savings Bank Ordinance (now repealed), hereinafter referred to as the repealed Ordinance, shall be deemed to be the Post Office Savings Bank established and constituted under this Act. (2) Any person who, immediately before the commencement of this Act, had money in an account with the former Savings Bank shall be deemed to have such money in an account in the Post Office Savings Bank under this Act. (3) The Post Office Savings Bank established and constituted under this Act shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal, capable of suing and being sued in its own name and which, subject to this Act, may acquire, hold or dispose of moveable and immoveable property for the purpose of its functions. [19 of 1993] [29 of 1954(F)] - 4 Verify source ↗
Establishment of Board
This section sets up the Post Office Savings Bank Board and lays out who sits on it, how meetings work, quorum and voting rules, and what invited attendees may do.
4. Establishment of Board (1) There is hereby established a Post Office Savings Bank Board which shall consist of the following members— (a) the Secretary to the Treasury or his representative, who shall be Chairman; (b) the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Malawi or his representative; (c) the Postmaster-General or his representative; and (d) two other members appointed by the Minister and holding office at the Minister's pleasure. (2) The Chairman and any two other members shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board , and unless otherwise provided or determined by the Board , the decision of the majority of the members present and voting at any meeting shall constitute a decision of the Board . The Chairman shall have a deliberative vote and, in addition, in the event of an equality of votes, a casting vote. (3) Meetings of the Board shall be called by the Chairman and shall be conducted in such manner as the Board may, from time to time, determine. (4) No act or proceeding of the Board shall be invalidated merely by reason of the existence of a vacancy or vacancies among the members, and all bona fide acts or proceedings of the Board shall be valid notwithstanding any defect that may afterwards be discovered in the appointment of any member of the Board . (5) The Chairman may invite any person to attend a meeting of the Board , and any such person attending a meeting of the Board shall have the right to address the Board but not to vote on any matter before the Board . - 5 Verify source ↗
Section 5
The Board is responsible for the policy and general administration of the Savings Bank, and the Postmaster-General must follow the Board’s special or general directions when exercising functions under the Act or regulations.
5. Functions of Board In addition to any functions conferred on it by this Act or any regulations made thereunder, the Board shall be responsible for the policy and general administration of the Savings Bank , and with regard to these matters the Postmaster-General shall, in the exercise of his functions under this Act or any regulations made thereunder, be subject to any special or general directions of the Board . [19 of 1993] - 6 Verify source ↗
Management of Savings Bank
The Postmaster-General is responsible for managing and controlling the Savings Bank, may take steps to promote thrift and the Act’s purposes, may open or close branches in Malawi, and must provide the Bank with needed officers.
6. Management of Savings Bank (1) Subject to this Act and any regulations made thereunder, the Postmaster-General shall be responsible for the day to day management and control of the Savings Bank and may take such steps as may be necessary or desirable for the encouragement of thrift, for the proper management of the Savings Bank and otherwise for the promotion of the objects and purposes of this Act. (2) The Postmaster-General may open offices or branches of the Savings Bank at any place in Malawi and may close such offices or branches, and may cause the business of such offices or branches to be conducted on such days and during such hours as he considers necessary or desirable. (3) The Postmaster-General shall make available to the Savings Bank such officers as are necessary or desirable for the efficient conduct of the business of the Savings Bank. [19 of 1993] - 7 Verify source ↗
Reserve Fund and Accumulated Deficit Fund
The Savings Bank must use annual profits and losses as directed: profits go to the Reserve Fund after offsetting any Accumulated Deficit Account balance, and losses are charged to the Reserve Fund, with excess losses charged to the Accumulated Deficit Account.
7. Reserve Fund and Accumulated Deficit Fund (1) Profits of the Savings Bank in any year shall, after being used to offset any balance in the Accumulated Deficit Account, be placed to the credit of the Reserve Fund which shall be established for that purpose. (2) Losses of the Savings Bank in any year shall be debited to the Reserve Fund: Provided that if at any time the losses exceed the balance in the Reserve Fund, or if there is no balance in the Reserve Fund, such losses or such excess losses shall be charged to the Accumulated Deficit Account which shall be established for that purpose. (3) Any profits or losses of the former Savings Bank subsisting immediately before the commencement of this Act shall be credited or debited in respect of the Savings Bank in accordance with subsections (1) and (2). - 8 Verify source ↗
Security of moneys deposited and expenses
The Government guarantees repayment of Savings Bank deposits with interest, and the Savings Bank must repay any Consolidated Fund sums if funds later become available.
8. Security of moneys deposited and expenses (1) The repayment of all moneys deposited in the Savings Bank together with interest thereon shall be guaranteed by the Government. (2) Where, at any time, the funds of the Savings Bank immediately available are insufficient to meet the lawful claims on an account , or to defray expenses, the deficiency shall be charged upon and paid out of the Consolidated Fund, and a report of such deficiency and payment shall be included in the annual report of the Savings Bank submitted to the Minister under section 11 : Provided that where sufficient funds are subsequently available, the sums charged upon and paid out of the Consolidated Fund shall so far as possible be repaid to the Consolidated Fund by the Savings Bank . (3) For the purposes of subsection (2) “expenses” means the cost of all works done or services rendered in connection with the Savings Bank , including such sum or sums on account of administrative and other overhead expenses as may, with the approval of the Minister, be reasonably assigned to those works or services. - 9 Verify source ↗
Investment of moneys
The Postmaster-General must invest Savings Bank money with Board approval, except cash needed for daily operations, and may also realize or deal with investments in specified ways.
9. Investment of moneys (1) Except to the extent of any sums required to be kept in hand for the day to day running and administration of the Savings Bank, the Postmaster-General shall, with the approval of the Board, invest the moneys held by the Savings Bank (which shall, for this purpose, include moneys in the Reserve Fund) in all or any of the following ways— (a) in Treasury Bills or other securities issued by the Government or for which the Government is responsible; (b) on deposit with the Reserve Bank of Malawi or with the Crown Agents for Oversea Governments and Administrations; (c) on deposit with any registered commercial bank, financial institution, discount house or accepting house carrying on business in Malawi; (d) with a building society registered in Malawi; (e) in any other securities that may be approved by the Minister. (2) The Postmaster-General may, with the approval of the Board, and subject to this section, realize or otherwise deal with investments of Savings Bank moneys. (3) Any investments of the former Savings Bank which by virtue of this Act become the property of the Savings Bank may be retained by the Postmaster-General or realized or dealt with by him notwithstanding that they do not come within any of the classes or categories of investments specified in subsection (1). (4) Any sums of money that may, from time to time, be required for the repayment of deposits under this Act or any regulations made thereunder, or for payment of interest thereon, or expenses under section 8 , or repayments to the Consolidated Fund, may be raised by the sale of the whole or any part of the investments referred to in subsection (1). [19 of 1993] - 10 Verify source ↗
Interest
The Minister sets the interest rate on Savings Bank deposits by notice in the Gazette, and any reduction needs at least one month's Gazette notice.
10. Interest (1) Interest shall, subject to any regulations made by the Minister under section 14 , be payable on deposits with the Savings Bank at such rate as the Minister shall from time to time, by notice published in the Gazette , determine: Provided that no decrease in the rate of interest payable under this subsection shall take place unless at least one month's notice of such decrease has been given in the Gazette . [1 of 1969] (2) Interest on deposits shall, subject to any regulations made by the Minister under section 14 , be calculated to the 31st December in each year and shall then be added to and become part of any principal money remaining on deposit, and any reference to deposit or deposits shall, unless the context otherwise requires, include any interest so added to the principal money. - 11 Verify source ↗
Accounts not operated on for fifteen years
An account with no transactions for 15 years stops earning interest, and after another 15 years the balance is transferred to the Reserve Fund and the account is closed.
11. Accounts not operated on for fifteen years (1) Where, for a period of fifteen years there have been no transactions on an account, or the pass book relating to such account has not been presented to the principal office, the account shall cease to bear interest from the expiration of such period of fifteen years: Provided that such account shall not cease to bear interest unless and until the Postmaster-General, by notice published in the Gazette , specifying the account concerned, has given six months’ notice of his intention to apply this subsection. (2) Where, upon the expiration of a further period of fifteen years after the expiration of the period of fifteen years referred to in subsection (1), there have still been no transactions on the account concerned, or the pass book has not been presented to the principal office, a sum equal to the amount standing to the credit of the account shall be transferred to the Reserve Fund, and the account shall be closed. Subsequent claims in respect of the account may be permitted by the Postmaster-General at his discretion. [19 of 1993] - 12 Verify source ↗
Books, accounts, records and reports
The Postmaster-General must keep proper books and records for the Savings Bank, and the General Manager must prepare and submit audited annual accounts on time.
12. Books, accounts, records and reports (1) The Postmaster-General shall keep or cause to be kept proper books of account and all other records necessary properly to reflect all the operations and transactions of the Savings Bank. (2) The accounts of the Savings Bank shall be audited annually by the auditors appointed from time to time by the Board with the approval of the Minister. (3) The General Manager shall as soon as possible and not later than six months after the end of each financial year, prepare, or cause to be prepared, and submit to the Minister, audited annual accounts which shall include the following statements— (a) the balance sheet as at the last day of the financial year; (b) the income and expenditure account for the year; (c) the Reserve Fund or Accumulated Deficit Account; (d) the depositors account showing deposits and withdrawals made during the year and the balance due to depositors at the close of the year; (e) a schedule of the securities in which Savings Bank funds are invested at the close of the year; and (f) a report on the year’s activities and such other information as may be required under this Act, or as the Minister may direct. (4) As soon as practicable the Minister shall lay before the National Assembly a copy of the annual accounts and report, together with the report of the Auditor General. [19 of 1993] - 13 Verify source ↗
Determination of disputes
Disputes under this section must be referred in writing to the High Court, which may decide them; its decision is final and binding.
13. Determination of disputes If any dispute arises between the Postmaster-General and any person having an account or any executor, administrator, trustee, or next-of-kin of such person, or any person appointed by a court to manage the affairs of such person, or any creditor, official receiver or trustee of any such person who has become bankrupt or insolvent, or any person claiming to be such executor, administrator, next-of-kin, manager, creditor, official receiver or trustee, or to be entitled to any moneys deposited in the Savings Bank , the matter so in dispute shall be referred in writing to the High Court, and the Court may inquire into and determine the matter in dispute, and such determination and adjudication in regard thereto shall be final and conclusive and binding on the parties. [19 of 1993] - 14 Verify source ↗
Regulations
The Minister may make regulations, after consulting the Board, to carry out this Act.
14. Regulations The Minister may, in consultation with the Board , make regulations for the better carrying into effect of the provisions and purposes of this Act, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, such regulations may provide for the regulation or control of all or any of the following matters— (a) deposits by minors, guardians, trustees, married women, friendly societies, charitable bodies or any other persons or bodies of persons of whatever description; (b) conditions for the withdrawal of moneys by minors, guardians, trustees, married women, friendly societies, charitable bodies or any other persons or bodies of persons of whatever description; (c) methods and the manner of dealing with the deposits of deceased persons, or persons presumed to be deceased, or insane or otherwise incapacitated persons; (d) the form of acknowledgement which shall be evidence of claims to repayment of deposits with interest thereon; (e) the maximum and minimum amounts which may be deposited or withdrawn at any one time; (f) the maximum amounts which may be paid into an account in any one year; (g) the withdrawal of moneys from accounts; (h) the fees leviable under this Act; (i) the remittance of deposits to the principal office by officers; (j) the manner in which accounts shall be kept and the inspection and supervision thereof; (k) forms for the purposes of this Act or any regulations made thereunder; (l) the persons or classes of persons who shall not be entitled to open accounts; (m) the calculation and payment of interest on accounts allowing for non-payment of interest on accounts below a prescribed minimum, and in respect of deposits made or withdrawn other than on the first or last day of a month, as the case may be. [44 of 1971] - 15 Verify source ↗
Remittances to and from other savings banks
The Postmaster-General may allow cross-border transfers between Savings Bank accounts and post office savings bank accounts if reciprocal arrangements exist and the Minister approves, subject to exchange-control law.
15. Remittances to and from other savings banks (1) Where the Postmaster-General, with the approval of the Minister, has entered into reciprocal arrangements with any other country for the purposes of this section the Postmaster-General may, subject to the provisions of any written law relating to exchange control, permit transfer of moneys from an account in the Savings Bank to a post office savings bank account in such other country, or from a post office savings bank account in such other country to an account in the Savings Bank: Provided that no amount shall be so credited which would make the total amount standing to the credit of an account exceed the maximum aggregate amount allowed to be deposited in an account under this Act. (2) The conditions under which transfers may be made under this section shall be such as the Postmaster-General may, with the approval of the Board, decide. [19 of 1993] - 16 Verify source ↗
Disclosure of information
Officers must not disclose Savings Bank account or transaction information, except in specified cases, and breaches can lead to a K200 fine.
16. Disclosure of information (1) No officer shall disclose the name of any person having an account, or depositing or withdrawing money in or from an account, or the amount which may have been deposited or withdrawn by any person, or any other information regarding transactions with the Savings Bank except— (a) to the Postmaster-General or such officer as he may appoint to assist in carrying out the purposes and provisions of this Act; (b) when required by order of a court or under any written law; (c) when required by the Attorney General for the purpose of an investigation or prosecution of an alleged offence: Provided that nothing in this section shall be deemed to limit the authority of the Auditor General to require disclosure of such accounts and documents as may be necessary to enable him to carry out the duties imposed upon him by or under any written law. (2) Any person who contravenes this section shall be liable to a fine of K200. [19 of 1993] - 17 Verify source ↗
Exemption from stamp duty
No stamp duty is payable on any form prescribed for the Savings Bank’s use or purposes.
17. Exemption from stamp duty No stamp duty shall be payable on any form prescribed for the use or purposes of the Savings Bank . - 18 Verify source ↗
Section 18
The General Manager, officers acting under the authority, and the Savings Bank are not liable for claims tied to payments or acts done under the Act, except for officer fraud or theft.
18. Indemnity in certain circumstances When any payment is made or any act done by the General Manager or any officer acting under this authority in accordance with this Act, the Savings Bank , the General Manager, and such officer shall not be liable in respect of any claim on the part of any person in connexion with such payment or act, without prejudice to any right of such person to recover any sum lawfully due to him from the person to whom the Postmaster has paid the same: Provided that nothing in this section shall be construed as exempting any officer from liability for damage or loss caused to any person by reason of fraud or theft committed by such officer in relation to or in connexion with his official duties. [44 of 1971] [19 of 1993] - 19 Verify source ↗
Authorization of payment for loss
If a person loses money from their account without fault or neglect, the Postmaster-General may authorize payment of the loss, or part of it, from Post Office Savings Bank funds.
19. Authorization of payment for loss Where a person suffers any loss from his account without any fault or neglect on his part, the Postmaster-General may, at his discretion, authorize the payment to such person of the amount of the loss, or any part thereof, from the funds of the Post Office Savings Bank . [44 of 1971] [19 of 1993]
Provision text is displayed from LexChat’s stored statute record. Use the official source links to verify amendments, commencement, and current legal force.
Ask AI about this statute
Post Office Savings Bank Act
Sign in to ask AI about this statute
Sign in to start authenticated, citation-grounded statute research.
Sign inLexChat organizes source-backed legal information for research. Verify amendments, commencement, and current legal force with the official publisher before relying on it.