Banks, DFIs surrender unclaimed deposits to SBP

June 15, 2026 (MLN): Banks and Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) have surrendered to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) all unclaimed deposits up to December 31, 2025.

Furthermore, account holders or their successors can now apply for refund of their claims, notified by SBP on its social media.

A deposit is classified as unclaimed if it has remained inoperative for ten years, with no transaction, statement request, or acknowledgment by the creditor during this period, provided it does not belong to a minor, government, or court of law.

Under Section 31 of the Banking Companies Ordinance 1962, all banks/DFIs are required to surrender such deposits including fixed deposits, other deposits, cheques, drafts and bills of exchange to SBP after ten years of inactivity, barring those held in the name of minors, government, or courts.

To check the unclaimed deposits list, claimants can select the relevant year and bank/DFI, after which an Excel sheet showing branch name, province, account holder's name, CNIC/passport number, address and amount will be displayed.

For filing a refund claim, account holders or successors are required to approach the concerned bank branch where the account was opened or the instrument was payable.

In case the branch has closed or shifted, the nearest branch of the same bank, or of the acquiring bank in case of mergers/acquisitions, can be contacted.

Claimants must submit a duly signed application along with a valid CNIC, succession certificate in case of a deceased account holder, and where the deceased's unclaimed deposit is less than Rs100,000 an indemnity bond on Rs100 non-judicial stamp paper signed by all legal heirs along with their CNICs and the account holder's death certificate.

The branch manager will forward the request with relevant record to SBP, which, after verification, will refund the surrendered amount to the respective bank/DFI for onward credit to the applicant.

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