What Is CAS And How Do I Use It?

The Consolidated Account Statement (CAS) is a powerful tool that simplifies the process of keeping track of your investment portfolio by providing a consolidated view of your holdings across different depositories.

In this article, we will look into what the CAS is, its functionalities, and how to use it to monitor your investments.

What is the CAS (Consolidated Account Statement)?

The Consolidated Account Statement (CAS) functions as a single, unified record that integrates all your investment details within the Indian securities market. This comprehensive statement encompasses transactions and holdings from various depositories, including the National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) and Central Depository Services (India) Limited (CDSL). These depositories hold your dematerialised securities (investment instruments in electronic form).

The CAS extends beyond traditional equity and debt holdings. It incorporates a wide range of investment instruments, including:

Equity Shares: Represent ownership in a company.
Preference Shares: A special type of company share with specific dividend and liquidation rights.
Mutual Fund Units (both Demat and statement/folio form): Represent your ownership stake in a mutual fund scheme.
Sovereign Gold Bonds: Government-issued bonds backed by gold prices.
Corporate Bonds: Debt instruments issued by companies to raise capital.
Debentures: a long-term security yielding a fixed rate of interest, issued by a company and secured against assets.
Securitised Instruments: Financial instruments backed by underlying assets like loans or mortgages.
Money Market Instruments: short-term financing instruments like commercial paper, treasury bills, certificates of deposit.
Government Securities: Debt instruments issued by the government.

Furthermore, the CAS captures details of all your investments held in single or joint names, as long as you are the sole/first holder. By consolidating information from various sources, the CAS eliminates the need to track individual statements from each depository, offering a holistic view of your investment portfolio, thus enabling you to make and track your holdings more effectively.

What is Included in the CAS?

The CAS provides a comprehensive breakdown of your mutual fund holdings, encompassing details beyond just the number of units and current value. Here's a closer look at the information you can expect to find:

Mutual Fund and AMC Details:

Asset Management Company (AMC): The name of the AMC that manages the specific mutual fund scheme you've invested in.
Scheme Name: The specific name of the mutual fund scheme you hold units in (e.g., SBI Bluechip Fund).

Transaction Details

Financial Transactions: The CAS reflects all your financial transactions related to the mutual fund, including:

Purchases of Units: Records your initial investment amount and the number of units purchased.
Redemptions (including maturity payments): Shows the number of units redeemed and the amount received, including any maturity payouts.
Switches: Tracks instances where you've switched units between different schemes within the same AMC.
Systematic Transactions: Details your SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) contributions, SWP (Systematic Withdrawal Plan) withdrawals, and STP (Systematic Transfer Plan) transfers between schemes.
Dividend Payments or Reinvestment: Reflects any dividends received from the scheme and whether they were paid out or reinvested into additional units.
Mergers of Schemes: Records instances where your scheme has merged with another scheme, and the new scheme details.
Bonus Unit Allotment: Shows any bonus units you've received from the scheme.

Investment Details:

Investment Method: The CAS specifies whether your investment was a lump sum purchase or through a SIP.
Unit Balances: It provides both the opening and closing unit balance for the specified period.

Investor Details:

Name and Contact Information: Your basic contact details are included.
Nominee Registration: The CAS reflects your nominee details, designated to inherit the units in case of your unfortunate demise.
Bank Details: While the CAS won't display your full bank account number, it might include the bank name for reference.
Holding Mode: This specifies whether you hold the units singly or jointly with another investor.
ISIN and UCC: The CAS includes the International Securities Identification Number (ISIN) and Unique Client Code (UCC) for each mutual fund scheme and portfolio within your holdings.

Important Note:

The CAS focuses on financial transactions related to your mutual fund investments. It excludes non-financial transactions like changes in address, bank details, or nominee registration updates. For these updates, you'll need to refer directly to your AMC or online investor portal.

When is the CAS Issued and How to Download It?

The frequency of CAS issuance depends on your transaction activity. Here's a breakdown:

Monthly: If there's any transaction in your Demat accounts or mutual fund folios during a particular month, you'll receive a CAS statement for that month.
Half-Yearly: In the absence of any transactions throughout a specific year, the CAS will be issued on a half-yearly basis.

Downloading Your CAS

CDSL offers a convenient online facility to download your CAS directly from their website. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Visit cdslindia.com: Navigate to the official website of Central Depository Services (India) Limited.
Login: Locate the "Login" section on the top right corner of the homepage and click on it.
CAS/Declare Bonafide: From the login options, select "CAS/Declare Bonafide" and proceed by clicking "Login."
Investor Details: Enter your ten-digit PAN number, followed by your 16-digit Demat account number.
Date of Birth and Captcha: Enter your date of birth and the verification characters displayed on the screen. Click "Submit" to proceed.
OTP Verification: Upon submitting your details, a One-Time Password (OTP) will be sent to your registered mobile number. Enter the received OTP to download your CAS.

Additional Download Options

While the CDSL website provides a convenient method to download your CAS, some Depository Participants (DPs) might offer access through their online portals or mobile applications.

How to import my Holdings via the CW App?

At Cambridge Wealth, we offer the CW mobile app that allows you to view the holdings from your CAS. Here's a general guide on how to import your holdings via the CW App:

App Registration: Begin by downloading and installing the CW mobile app from the App Store or Google Play Store. Upon launching the app, follow the on-screen prompts to Sign-Up using your phone number.
Portfolio Onboarding: Locate the section within the Feed labeled "Build My Portfolio". Navigate to this section and initiate the onboarding process.
PAN Authentication: During the onboarding process, you'll be offered the option to import your portfolio details using your Permanent Account Number (PAN). Choose this option and proceed by entering your PAN number.
Phone Number Verification: The app will verify your phone number against the one registered with your PAN.
Matching Numbers: If the phone number associated with the CW app matches the one linked to your PAN, you'll receive a One-Time Password (OTP) via SMS from MFCentral for verification. Enter the received OTP to proceed.
Non-Matching Numbers: If the phone number associated with the CW app differs from the one linked to your PAN, you'll be prompted to enter the phone number registered with your PAN. Upon entering the correct phone number, you'll receive an OTP from MFCentral for verification via SMS. Enter the received OTP to proceed.
Data Retrieval: After successful OTP verification, the app might take a few minutes to retrieve your holding information from your CAS via MFCentral.
Portfolio Overview: Once the data retrieval process is complete, your holdings will be displayed within the CW app, offering you a convenient way to view your investment portfolio.

Conclusion

The Consolidated Account Statement (CAS) offers you the convenience of keeping track of your investment portfolio. Understanding how to access, interpret, and leverage the information within the CAS will help you make informed investment decisions, track performance, and also help streamline your tax filing process. Remember to regularly review your CAS to stay updated on your holdings and identify any potential discrepancies. As always, for personalised assistance regarding your financial investments consider consulting with a financial counsellor.

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