The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has announced that banks and Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) have transferred all unclaimed deposits up to December 31, 2025, to the central bank in accordance with legal requirements.
The SBP also informed account holders and their legal successors that they can now apply for refunds of these deposits through the concerned banks.
The announcement was made through the central bank’s official social media platforms.
Deposits Become Unclaimed After 10 Years of Inactivity
According to the SBP, a deposit is classified as unclaimed if it remains inactive for ten years without any transaction, statement request or acknowledgment from the account holder.
However, deposits belonging to minors, government entities and courts of law are exempt from this classification.
Under Section 31 of the Banking Companies Ordinance, 1962, banks and DFIs are required to surrender such inactive funds to the central bank after ten years.
The surrendered amounts include fixed deposits, savings accounts, cheques, drafts and bills of exchange.
How to Check the List of Unclaimed Deposits
The SBP said account holders and their heirs can access the list of unclaimed deposits by selecting the relevant year and bank or DFI.
An Excel sheet will then display details including:
Branch name
Province
Account holder’s name
CNIC or passport number
Address
Amount deposited
This information will help claimants identify whether any amount remains unclaimed in their name or that of a deceased family member.
Claimants Must Contact the Concerned Bank Branch
To receive the refund, account holders or their successors must approach the branch where the account was originally opened or where the financial instrument was payable.
If the branch has closed or relocated, applicants can visit the nearest branch of the same bank.
In cases involving mergers or acquisitions, claimants can contact the acquiring bank.
The branch manager will collect the relevant documents and forward the case to the State Bank of Pakistan for verification.
Required Documents for Refund Claims
The SBP has outlined several documents that claimants must provide.
For living account holders, a signed application and a valid Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) are required.
In cases where the account holder has passed away, legal heirs must submit:
A succession certificate
Death certificate of the deceased account holder
Valid CNICs of legal heirs
For deposits worth less than Rs100,000, legal heirs can submit an indemnity bond on Rs100 non-judicial stamp paper instead of a succession certificate.
The indemnity bond must be signed by all legal heirs and accompanied by copies of their CNICs.
SBP Will Verify Claims Before Releasing Funds
After receiving the request from the bank branch, the State Bank of Pakistan will verify the information and supporting documents.
Once the verification process is completed, the surrendered amount will be transferred back to the respective bank or DFI.
The bank will then credit the amount to the claimant’s account.
The central bank said the mechanism aims to ensure that rightful owners and their successors can recover funds that remained dormant for years.