RBI’s UDGAM portal helps users find unclaimed bank deposits in India across participating banks. Account holders, nominees, and legal heirs file claims with the bank.
A March 2026 Finance Ministry update put public sector banks’ unclaimed deposits transferred to RBI’s Depositor Education and Awareness Fund at ₹60,518 crore as of 31 January 2026.
Key Highlights
- UDGAM searches participating banks for deposits transferred to RBI’s Depositor Education and Awareness Fund.
- Save the Unclaimed Deposit Reference Number if the portal finds a match.
- Send the claim and supporting documents to the bank that held the deposit.
When Does a Bank Deposit Become Unclaimed?
An old salary account can become inoperative years before it qualifies for a UDGAM search. The RBI rules on inoperative accounts classify savings or current accounts as inoperative after more than two years without a customer-induced transaction.
| Deposit Status | When It Applies | Where to Start |
| Inoperative savings or current account | More than two years without a customer-induced transaction | Ask the bank about reactivation and identity checks. |
| Unclaimed savings or current balance | Ten years without account operation | Search UDGAM or ask the bank to trace the balance. |
| Unclaimed fixed deposit | Ten years after maturity without a claim | Ask the bank to check the deposit receipt or account records. |
Under RBI’s DEA Fund rules, the bank can repay an eligible claimant and then recover that amount from the fund. A transfer to RBI leaves the right to claim with the depositor or eligible successor. The Your Money, Your Right campaign, covered by ANI in October 2025, was a separate effort to help people find those assets.
How to Search the RBI UDGAM Portal
An old passbook helps, but an account number is unnecessary for a UDGAM search. Start with the name as recorded by the bank. A parent’s maiden name or former address may be more useful than details from a newer document.
- Open the official RBI UDGAM portal and register with your name and mobile number.
- Enter the account holder’s name and choose one or more banks. The RBI search instructions accept the holder’s date of birth, PAN, driving licence number, voter ID number, or passport number. If none is available, try the address recorded with the bank.
- Save the Unclaimed Deposit Reference Number (UDRN) if you find a match. Use the bank’s claim instructions shown with the result to find out what it needs next.
How to Claim an Unclaimed Deposit From the Bank
The bank verifies the person asking for the money. A result on UDGAM helps it locate the record. Bring the reference number and any available account papers, then ask for the claim form that applies to you.
- Account holder. Take the completed claim form, valid identity and address proof, and any passbook, statement, or fixed deposit receipt you have. SBI’s claim process shows the documents a bank may ask for.
- Nominee or legal heir. Prepare the depositor’s death certificate and the claimant’s identity and address proof. Ask the bank what further evidence it needs if there is no valid nomination or applicable survivorship clause.
Under the RBI rules for deceased customers’ deposits, banks must settle these claims within 15 calendar days of receiving all required documents. Ask for a dated acknowledgement so you can track when the bank received the complete set.
What to Do if UDGAM Shows No Match
Check the old spelling of the name and the address used when the account was opened. If the bank does not participate in UDGAM, search its own unclaimed deposit page or contact it directly. A blank result can also mean the account is still with the bank and has yet to reach the ten-year threshold.
For families tracing more than deposits, the government’s Common Landing Portal offers access to searches for insurance, shares and mutual funds as well. The Finance Ministry launched it in May 2026 to bring those search options together.
If the bank’s handling of a claim remains unresolved, file a written complaint with the bank first. The RBI Ombudsman rules explain when to escalate through the Complaint Management System. To trace a deposit, gather the account holder’s old details and run the UDGAM search.
FAQs
Can I search UDGAM with my own mobile number for a parent’s deposit?
Yes. Register with your own mobile number, then search using your parent’s name and details as held by the bank. Claim eligibility is verified separately by the bank.
Can a nominee claim a joint deposit when one account holder is still alive?
RBI says the nominee’s right arises after all joint holders have died. While one holder survives, the bank follows the account’s operating and survivorship instructions.
Will the bank pay interest on an unclaimed deposit?
The bank pays applicable interest on eligible interest-bearing deposits. Ask it for a breakdown of the principal and interest when it confirms the amount payable.
Can I update KYC at a branch other than the original branch?
RBI allows KYC updates for reactivation at non-home branches. Ask the bank where to submit the actual claim, especially if you are applying as a legal heir.
Can I claim after the government’s awareness campaign has ended?
Yes. An eligible claimant can still approach the bank after the campaign ends. The bank checks the claim and can recover the money from the RBI’s fund.
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