RBI Reports Average Monthly Reimbursement of Unclaimed Deposits Hits ₹760 Crore

Efforts to return unclaimed financial assets to rightful owners have gained momentum, with a sharp increase in payouts observed in recent months.  

The Reserve Bank of India highlighted the impact of coordinated campaigns and policy measures in accelerating the process. 

Payout Surge and Key Drivers 

As per news reports, the RBI stated that average monthly payouts of unclaimed deposits have increased significantly to ₹760 crore from October onwards, compared to ₹180 crore per month recorded between April and September 2025. 

Explaining the reasons behind this jump, RBI Executive Director Lakshmi Kanth Rao pointed to 2 major factors. He noted that a nationwide campaign conducted between October and December, along with incentive schemes for banks, led to higher recovery and settlement of unclaimed funds.  

He described the increase as “quite a jump”, adding that these initiatives resulted in “a lot of amounts being returned” to claimants. 

To further support the process, the central bank has allocated around ₹600 crore to banks to encourage active tracing of customers and faster return of funds. 

Nationwide Campaign and Institutional Participation 

The campaign titled “Aapki Poonji, Aapka Adhikar – Your Money, Your Right” was launched by the Government of India in collaboration with RBI and other financial regulators.  

It aimed to facilitate the return of unclaimed assets across categories including bank deposits, insurance, dividends, shares, mutual funds, and pensions. 

The initiative saw participation from multiple regulators, including SEBI, IRDAI, PFRDA, and IEPFA, reflecting a coordinated approach across the financial ecosystem.  

During the first 2 months of the campaign alone, approximately ₹2,000 crore worth of unclaimed funds were returned to rightful owners. 

Recovery Data and Supporting Infrastructure 

According to data shared in the Rajya Sabha by Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, special camps were organised across 748 districts. As of February 28, 2026, unclaimed assets worth ₹5,777 crore linked to 22.95 lakh claims had been returned. 

The Depositor Education and Awareness Fund maintained by the RBI stood at ₹60,518 crore as of January 31, 2026, indicating the scale of unclaimed deposits still present in the system. 

Technology platforms have also played a crucial role in improving access. RBI’s UDGAM portal allows users to search for unclaimed bank deposits across institutions, with 18.86 lakh registered users as of March 1, 2026.  

Similar platforms such as IRDAI’s Bima Bharosa and SEBI’s MITRA have enabled individuals to track insurance proceeds and mutual fund holdings more efficiently. These tools help users either claim their funds or reactivate dormant accounts. 

Read More: RBI Eases CRAR Computation and IFR Requirements for Banks! 

Conclusion 

The combined impact of awareness campaigns, regulatory coordination and technology platforms has significantly improved the recovery of unclaimed financial assets, with monthly payouts witnessing a substantial rise. 

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