People who have lost track of an old savings account, fixed deposit or deposit held by a family member can use the Reserve Bank of India’s UDGAM portal to search for unclaimed balances across participating banks. The portal brings information from multiple banks into one search facility, but it does not release money or settle a claim. A successful search is only the first step; the account holder, nominee or legal heir must approach the bank that holds the deposit and complete its verification process.
UDGAM stands for Unclaimed Deposits–Gateway to Access inforMation. The RBI developed it to make it easier for registered users to search for unclaimed deposits and accounts in one place. The portal can be useful when a person has changed banks, moved cities, forgotten an old deposit or is trying to locate money belonging to a deceased relative. It is also relevant to businesses and institutions that need to trace older balances.
What counts as an unclaimed deposit
Under the RBI framework, a deposit account can become inoperative when there has been no customer-induced transaction for the prescribed period. Banks classify savings and current accounts as inoperative after two years without a customer-induced transaction, subject to the applicable directions and exceptions. A fixed deposit or other amount that remains unpaid or unclaimed for ten years is transferred by the bank to the Depositor Education and Awareness Fund maintained by the RBI. The transfer does not mean the customer’s right to claim the money disappears.
It is important to distinguish an inoperative account from a deposit transferred to the DEA Fund. An inoperative account may still be held by the bank and can be reactivated through its process. A deposit transferred to the fund has crossed the longer unclaimed period, but the bank remains the point of contact for a valid claim. The UDGAM portal is designed to help locate information about deposits that have entered the unclaimed-deposit system.
The RBI’s published FAQ stated that, as of March 4, 2024, 30 banks were onboarded to UDGAM and those banks represented about 90 per cent of the unclaimed deposits in the DEA Fund by value. That is a dated figure, not a guarantee that the same number of banks is currently participating. Users should check the live portal’s bank list before assuming that a search covers every bank in India.
A user must register on the portal with a name and mobile number. For an individual account, the search requires the account holder’s name, the bank name and one or more identifying details from the permitted list. The RBI FAQ identifies PAN, driving-licence number, voter identity number, passport number and date of birth as possible inputs. The portal also allows an address to be used in place of those details in the circumstances described in the official FAQ.
For a non-individual account, the search can use the entity’s name, the bank and one or more details such as the authorised signatory’s name, PAN, Corporate Identification Number or date of incorporation. Businesses should check the exact spelling and legal name used when the deposit was opened. A company may have changed its name, merged or been restructured since the account was created, so the older name may be relevant to the search.
Before starting, gather the information that is available from old passbooks, deposit receipts, account statements, tax records, correspondence and family documents. If the account belonged to a relative, check the spelling of the name, the bank’s earlier name and the branch location. A bank merger can make the present institution different from the one shown on an old receipt. The portal search is more effective when the details are entered carefully rather than repeatedly guessing.
How to use UDGAM step by step
First, open the official UDGAM portal and register using the requested name and mobile number. Complete the verification step shown on the portal and sign in. Select the individual or non-individual search option that matches the account holder. Choose the bank or banks to be searched, enter the name and the available identifying details, and submit the request.
Review the results carefully. A matching name does not by itself prove ownership, and a result may relate to another person with a similar name. Check the bank, the account holder details and the information shown in the result. If a deposit is found, note the Unclaimed Deposit Reference Number, or UDRN, and any bank-specific instructions. The UDRN is generated by the bank’s core banking system and is designed to help the bank identify the deposit without exposing account details to third parties.
The next step is to contact the bank that holds the deposit. The RBI FAQ makes clear that UDGAM does not settle claims through the portal or through the RBI. It provides search information and details about the claim process for each bank. The claim must be made to the relevant bank, which will explain the documents, forms and verification required.
Visit the bank’s official website or branch using contact details verified independently. Ask for the unclaimed-deposit claim procedure and quote the UDRN or other reference from the search result. The bank may require identity and address proof, a completed claim form, specimen signature, passbook or deposit receipt, and updated KYC information. Requirements vary with the bank, the account type and the claimant’s relationship to the original depositor.
If the original account holder is alive, the bank will generally verify the account holder’s identity and authority to claim. If the depositor has died, the nominee or legal heir may need to provide a death certificate, proof of nomination or relationship, identity documents and other succession or indemnity papers required by the bank. The exact process depends on whether a nominee was registered, whether there are competing claims and the amount involved. Do not assume that a UDGAM search result alone is sufficient to release funds.
Once the bank receives the claim, it must verify the claimant, the deposit record and any legal or operational requirements. The bank may ask for additional documents if the old account details are incomplete or if the deposit was opened under a previous name. If a fixed deposit was renewed, matured or transferred, the bank may need to trace the original receipt and subsequent entries. Keep copies of every document submitted and obtain an acknowledgement for the claim.
The transfer of an unclaimed deposit to the DEA Fund does not mean the money is automatically forfeited. The bank remains responsible for processing a valid claim under the applicable rules. Interest treatment can depend on the type of deposit, its maturity status and the RBI directions that apply. A customer should ask the bank for a written calculation rather than assume that the amount shown on an old receipt is the final payable amount.
If the bank rejects a claim or does not explain the status, ask for the reason in writing and use the bank’s grievance process. A customer may be able to approach the RBI’s Integrated Ombudsman mechanism if the matter falls within its jurisdiction and the required prior complaint and timing conditions are met. The Ombudsman is not a substitute for proving ownership of a deposit, and it cannot direct payment where the claimant has not established the legal right to the funds.
A search that returns no result does not prove that no deposit exists. The bank may not be onboarded, the deposit may not have crossed the unclaimed threshold, the name may have been recorded differently or the search details may be incomplete. Try a relevant earlier name, the bank’s successor institution, an old branch location or a family member’s records. You can also ask the bank to check its own unclaimed-deposit list and records.
How families and legal heirs should prepare
Families often discover an old deposit only after a relative dies or when papers are being organised. Keep a list of banks, branches, account numbers and deposit receipts in a secure place, and ensure that nominations and contact details are updated. A nominee is not always the same as the final beneficial owner under succession law, so a bank may need additional documents where there is a dispute or no nomination. Legal heirs should avoid signing blank forms or paying an intermediary who promises to release the deposit quickly.
For business accounts, old deposits may be held in the name of a partnership, company, trust or dissolved entity. The person making the claim must show authority to act for the entity and may need incorporation, partnership, board or liquidation documents. If the entity has been merged or renamed, the successor documents can help the bank establish continuity. A UDGAM search is a locator, not a determination of corporate succession.
Security is important because unclaimed-deposit searches can attract fraud attempts. Do not share an OTP, PIN, password or remote-access code with a caller claiming to be from the RBI or a bank. Do not pay a fee to an agent who says a deposit has been found and can be released through a private channel. Use the official portal and the bank’s published contact details, and keep sensitive identity documents out of public messaging groups.
The UDGAM system is useful because it reduces the need to search multiple bank websites separately. Its limitations are equally important: not every bank may be covered, a name match is not proof of ownership and the portal does not pay the claimant. A successful recovery still depends on the bank’s verification process and the documents available to the person entitled to the deposit.
For customers, the best approach is to search methodically, retain the UDRN and take the result to the bank. For banks, the challenge is to make claim requirements understandable and process valid applications without unnecessary delay. For families, keeping records and nominations current can prevent balances from becoming difficult to trace in the first place.
Also read: How to File an RBI Ombudsman Complaint: 2026 Rules and 90-Day Deadline
Also read: PNB Greater Noida Account Dispute: What Is Known About the Alleged ₹35 Crore Shortfall
Frequently asked questions
Can money be claimed directly through UDGAM?
No. UDGAM helps users search for unclaimed deposits and provides bank-specific claim information. The claim must be submitted to the bank that holds the deposit.
Does a UDGAM search result prove that the money belongs to me?
No. The result is a lead for further verification. The bank checks identity, account records, nomination or succession documents and other requirements before settling a claim.
What if my bank does not appear in the UDGAM search?
The bank may not be part of the portal, or the deposit may not be included in the searchable records. Check the current participating-bank list and contact the bank directly about its own unclaimed-deposit search process.
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