KARACHI, June 24, 2025 — The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has officially released the details of unclaimed bank deposits surrendered by various banks and Development Financial Institutions (DFIs) up to December 31, 2023. In a public notice issued on Tuesday, the SBP informed the general public that these deposits had remained inactive for over ten years and are now available for refund claims.
According to the SBP, under Section 31 of the Banking Companies Ordinance, 1962, all banks and DFIs operating in Pakistan are required to transfer unclaimed deposits to the SBP. These include fixed deposits, savings and current accounts, cheques, drafts, and bills of exchange that have not been operated or acknowledged for the last decade—excluding accounts held in the name of minors, government institutions, or courts of law.
A total of 33 financial institutions have submitted their lists of unclaimed deposits to the SBP. These include major banks such as Habib Bank Limited, United Bank Limited, National Bank of Pakistan, MCB Bank Limited, Meezan Bank, Allied Bank, Bank Alfalah, and Standard Chartered Bank (Pakistan) Limited, among others.
The SBP has made it easier for individuals to verify whether they or their relatives have any unclaimed deposits. Users can access the official SBP portal, select the relevant year and bank, and view the Excel sheets listing account holders’ names, CNIC/passport numbers, branch details, addresses, and the amounts held. These searchable files can be browsed using the ‘Ctrl+F’ command for quick navigation.
To reclaim unclaimed deposits, account holders or legal successors are required to approach the relevant bank branch where the account was originally opened. In cases where branches have closed or shifted, the nearest branch or successor bank (in case of a merger) may be contacted. Claimants must submit a signed application, valid CNIC, and—in case of deceased account holders—a succession certificate or indemnity bond, depending on the deposit amount.
Once verified, the branch forwards the request to the relevant bank quarters, which in turn submit it to the SBP for final verification. After approval, the SBP refunds the amount to the concerned bank or DFI for credit to the claimant’s account.
The SBP emphasized that timely review of unclaimed deposits can help rightful owners or their families recover long-forgotten funds and urged the public to take advantage of the facility.