Lakhs of crores of rupees are lying in old bank accounts. Are you on this list? Learn how to get your money back, including interest..

Did you know that millions of crores of rupees lie unclaimed in Indian banks? Accounts that have been forgotten, or where account holders have passed away and their heirs have not claimed them. Such accounts are called Unclaimed Deposit Accounts.

If you have money lying in an old account and haven't operated it for 10 years or more, there's no need to worry. Your money is still safe, and the RBI has established a complete process for getting it back.

What does the RBI do with this 'forgotten money'?

In 2014, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched the Depositor Education and Awareness Fund (DEA Fund). This fund is used to transfer funds from accounts that have been inactive for more than 10 years. These include:

Savings Account
Current Account
Fixed Deposit or Term Deposit
Recurring Deposit
Old Bank Drafts, Pay Orders, or Unclaimed Checks
Prepaid Card Balance
Keep in mind that the money in these accounts is not lost forever. The account holder or their legal heir can demand the return of this amount, including interest, from the bank at any time.

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Should you insure your loan or not? When should you insure it, and when should you not? Don't be confused by the agents' words; understand how it works.

How much 'forgotten money' is lying in India?
According to an RBI report, lakhs of crores of rupees of unclaimed money are lying in the country's banks. This amount is linked to millions of accounts that have been inactive for years.

What is the UDGAM portal, and how does it help?
The RBI has launched the Unclaimed Deposits Gateway to Access Information (UDGAM Portal). It is a single online platform where you can search for information on your old accounts held across multiple banks in one place. Currently, more than 30 banks across the country are connected to the UDGAM portal, including major names like SBI, HDFC, ICICI, Axis, PNB, and Bank of Baroda.

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Just keep a close eye on this one thing about your loan. You'll never fall into a debt trap, and you'll save money!
Follow these 3 easy steps to get your old account back.
Now let's talk about the real question: how will you get your money back? The process is very simple.

Step 1: Visit any branch of your bank. It doesn't have to be the same branch where the account was opened.

Step 2: Submit your KYC documents (Aadhaar, PAN, Voter ID, Passport, Driving License) and a completed claim form.

Step 3: The bank will verify your claim and transfer the money, including interest (if applicable), to your account.

How to Search Online on the UDGAM Portal
If you don't know which bank your old account is with, you can search for it by visiting the UDGAM portal. Now, the question is how to search. Here are the steps:

Go to the website https://udgam.rbi.org.in.
Log in by entering your mobile number and name.
Select the bank name and enter one of your identifying information—such as PAN, Voter ID, passport number, or date of birth.

If the account is found, details will appear on the screen.

After this, contact the relevant bank and file a claim.

Who can claim?

The account holder himself (Depositor)
The account holder's family or legal heir

The authorized representative of a company or organization

If the account holder has died, his or her heir must file a claim with a death certificate and identity proof.

How much time is there to file a claim?

The best news is that there is no time limit for recovering money from old accounts. This means you can file a claim even after 10 or 20 years, provided you have the necessary documents.

RBI is also running special claim camps (RBI Unclaimed Money Camps) across the country between October and December 2025. By attending these camps, you can meet directly with RBI and bank officials to obtain information about your old account. These camps offer assistance counters, document verification, and on-spot claim facilities.

Will you receive interest?
Yes, if your old account was an interest-bearing account, you will receive the amount along with interest upon filing a claim. The interest rate will be the same as the previous one.

The RBI's UDGAM portal is ready to help. You can get your old money back in just three steps. Remember, the money is yours, and it is your right to withdraw it.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from Zee Business. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.