New Delhi, India | December 31, 2025
More than ₹62,000 crore is lying unclaimed in Indian banks, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), raising concerns over dormant accounts and forgotten deposits across the country.
As per RBI’s latest disclosure, unclaimed deposits in banks rose to ₹62,314 crore by the end of 2024. These funds belong to bank accounts that have seen no activity—no withdrawals, deposits, or transactions—for 10 years or more.
Public Sector Banks Hold the Largest Share
A significant portion of this unclaimed money is held by public sector banks. Out of the total amount, nearly ₹50,900 crore is parked with government-owned banks, highlighting the scale of dormant savings accounts in the public banking system.
SBI Tops the List
The State Bank of India (SBI) holds the highest amount of unclaimed deposits among all banks. According to RBI’s annual report, ₹16,968 crore remains unclaimed with SBI alone, followed by other major public sector lenders.
The trend has grown sharply in recent years. In 2021, unclaimed deposits stood at around ₹31,000 crore, meaning the figure has more than doubled in just three years. Experts say this increase suggests many people have either forgotten about old accounts or are unaware that they or their family members are entitled to the funds.
Who Can Claim Unclaimed Bank Money?
Recovering unclaimed deposits is not complicated. The following individuals are eligible to file a claim:
The original account holder
Joint account holder
Nominee
Legal heir
The claimant must visit the concerned bank branch and submit a request along with valid KYC documents, including Aadhaar, PAN card, identity proof, and address proof.
If the account holder wishes to continue using the account, the bank will reactivate the account after completing formalities. If the claimant prefers to close the account, the bank will process the request and refund the entire amount.
Government Awareness Campaign
To help people recover their money, the government has launched an awareness initiative titled “Your Money, Your Right.” The campaign encourages citizens to check for dormant or forgotten bank accounts and claim funds that legally belong to them.
What Happens After 10 Years?
Under RBI regulations, if a bank account remains inactive for 10 years and the deposit is unclaimed, the amount is transferred to the Depositor Education and Awareness (DEA) Fund maintained by RBI.
Importantly, even after the transfer to the DEA Fund, the account holder or legal heir retains full ownership rights, and the money can still be claimed through the bank.
