RBI Campaigns Lift Unclaimed Deposit Payouts to ₹1,043 Crore in December

Initiatives by the Reserve Bank of India and the government to help customers reclaim unclaimed financial assets have led to a sharp increase in the amount returned to depositors in recent months. 

Rising Monthly Payouts from Unclaimed Deposits 

Data released by the Reserve Bank of India showed that payouts of unclaimed bank deposits increased to ₹1,043 crore in December, compared with an earlier monthly average of ₹100 to ₹200 crore before the campaigns were launched.  

The amount returned to customers was ₹759 crore in October and rose further to ₹802 crore in November, reflecting a steady sequential increase. 

Deputy Governor S C Murmu said, “Month-wise, the amount of money returned to customers has gone up. In December, the figure stood at ₹1,043 crore.  

In November, it was ₹802 crore and in October, it was ₹759 crore. Before this campaign, it was averaging around ₹100 to ₹200 crore. So, this has actually picked up, and January figures are yet to come, and we believe it will be much better.” 

Unclaimed Deposits and Nationwide Campaign 

The central bank said the total value of unclaimed deposits with banks, including interest, stood at ₹85,000 crore.  

In December, the government launched a nationwide campaign titled Aapki Poonji, Aapka Adhikar, Your Money, Your Right, to facilitate the settlement of unclaimed financial assets. 

The campaign involves multiple regulators, including the Reserve Bank of India, the Securities and Exchange Board of India, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority and the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority. 

Digital Platforms Supporting Claims 

Regulators said digital platforms have helped citizens trace and claim unclaimed assets more efficiently. These include the RBI’s UDGAM portal, Irdai’s Bima Bharosa platform and Sebi’s MITRA platform. During the first two months of the campaign, around ₹2,000 crore was claimed. 

Read More: RBI Proposes to Scrap ₹2.5 Lakh Crore Cap on Voluntary Retention Route! 

Conclusion 

Overall, regulators have returned ₹5,000 crore to customers so far under the campaign, including ₹1,043 crore in December alone. Separately, unclaimed deposits with the Depositor Education and Awareness Fund stood at ₹74,580.25 crore as of FY25. 

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