An estimated £15bn is held in dormant bank and building society accounts, according to BBC reports. An account is considered dormant when a bank or building society loses contact with the account holder for a period of years. The BBAmaintains a record of dormant accounts in perpetuity. The account holder retains ownership of the dormant account, and it continues to earn interest until claimed.
Did you or a family member have unclaimed money at a bank or building society that moved, changed its name or closed? Don’t assume that because your branch no longer exists that unclaimed balances are lost forever. Your account may have been transferred to a successor bank. The BBA dormant accounts section can assist you in tracing a lost account. Go to:http://www.mylostaccount.org.uk/
The Bank and Building Society Account Detective offers an online search to determine what became of a bank or building society, and provides contact information for the institution or its successor, as well as a sample letter of enquiry for dormant accounts.
Dormant account claims forms are available from banks and the BBA. Note: Account owners and heirs experiencing difficulty recovering lost accounts can seek assistance from the Financial Ombudsman Service. Contact:
Financial Ombudsman Service
South Quay Plaza
183 Marsh Wall
London E14 9SR
Telephone: 0845 080 1800
To search and claim dormant accounts, contact the British Bankers’ Association (BBA) or the Building Societies Association (BSA).
Dormant and Unclaimed Bank Accounts | |
|---|---|
| BBA Dormant Account Unit Pinners Hall, 105-108 Old Broad Street London EC2N 1EX Tel: +44(0) 20 7216 8909 | Trace a lost bank account MyLostAccount.org Bank & Building Society Mergers |
Building Societies Association (BSA) Lost Accounts | |
|---|---|
| Lost Account Scheme The Building Societies Association York House, 23 Kingsway London WC2B 6UJ http://www.bsa.org.uk | Trace a lost Building Society Account Online Lost Account Inquiry Reclaim Funds from a Dormant Account Trace a lost account at a Building Society which no longer exists |