How To Find Old Bank Accounts In Your Name

You’d be surprised at how common an occurrence losing track of money really is. According to the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators, one in seven people have unclaimed assets. This includes cash that might have been in an old bank account.

If you’ve lost track of an old checking or savings account, you might still be able to find it and claim your property. Even better is that the methods of doing so are usually free, though they might require some digging.

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Learn how to find old bank accounts or unclaimed money, and what to watch out for along the way.

Key Takeaways

• About 1 in 7 people have unclaimed property, and searching for it is free through official state and federal programs.

• Finding old bank accounts usually costs nothing — the main methods just take some digging through government databases.

• Start with free federal tools. FDIC BankFind tracks insured banks and mergers back to 1934, and a separate FDIC tool covers funds from failed banks.

Summary generated by AI, verified by MoneyLion editors

7 Ways To Find Old Bank Accounts

How you go about finding old bank accounts depends on three main things:

• When you last accessed the account

• What account information you currently have

• What type of institution you were using

Although the methods vary, finding your accounts could mean recovering money you forgot you had. Even a small sum is still worth reclaiming since it’s rightfully yours.

These are the seven legitimate ways you can go about recovering your old bank accounts right now.

1. Check with the FDIC

Financial institutions sometimes close or merge with others, which could cause you to lose track of your accounts. The money’s still yours, but you might have trouble locating it.

If this is what happened to you, use the FDIC’s BankFind Suite to find out where your money’s being kept right now. The database lets you track everything from branch locations to mergers and acquisitions. It includes FDIC-insured banks dating back to 1934, so chances are yours is in there somewhere.

You can also use the FDIC’s Unclaimed Funds search tool to find cash you thought lost when your bank closed. The more information you have (like the bank's original name), the more tailored your search results.

2. Contact Your Bank

With still active accounts, your best bet might be to reach out to the bank or credit union directly. Either call their customer service team or visit a local branch. If neither option is available to you, use the institution’s online chat feature instead.

You’ll need to verify your identity, so be prepared with some form of government-issued ID and your Social Security number. You may also need your account information, which you can locate on old bank statements or paper checks.

3. Use Your State’s Unclaimed Property Website

All 50 states have their own unclaimed property website, which you can use to find lost property. You’ll need some basic information to use it.

For example, North Carolina lets you search for funds using your first and last name, city and ZIP code. If you have a reference number from the state, you can include that as well.

If your search comes back empty, do the same search with other states you’ve lived or worked in. Even if you only resided there for a few months, it’s worth checking if you have unclaimed funds.

4. Use NAUPA’s Unclaimed Property Database

NAUPA’s official website, Unclaimed.org, has an interactive map you can use to find your state or province’s unclaimed property program. It includes all 50 states, as well as British Columbia, Alberta, Kenya, New Brunswick, Puerto Rico, Quebec, US Virgin Islands and Bank of Canada.

Going this route can be a huge time-saver if you’ve moved around a lot, or if you’ve opened bank accounts in multiple different states. That’s because you don’t need to search for every state’s website individually. Simply click and you’ll be redirected to the appropriate website.

5. Search With Missing Money

You don’t need a ton of information to find old bank accounts. In the case with MissingMoney.com, all you need to get started is your legal name (first and last). If you happen to know the city and state/province where your account was located, that’ll help narrow down your search results.

Through this database, you’ll find information like:

• Owner name on the unclaimed property

• Co-owner’s name (if applicable) 

• Reporting business name (often the bank or credit union)

• Full or partial address

• Where the property is held (state or province)

• Estimated amount (e.g., under $25 or over $100)

If you find an entry that might be yours, click “Claim.” Then, simply follow the prompts to file your claim. You’ll need your current contact information, date of birth, SSN and an electronic signature. Be sure to only submit a claim for property you’re certain actually belongs to you.

6. Search ChexSystems

ChexSystems is a national reporting agency that tracks people’s banking history. You can get a copy of your report for free on the official ChexSystems website. Once you have it, look it over for closed checking or savings accounts.

This won’t directly get you those missing funds. But what it will do is give you a good idea of where to look for old or missing bank accounts.

7. Search the National Credit Union Administration

The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) holds unclaimed deposits from liquidated credit unions. In other words, if you had an account at a credit union that closed, you might be able to use the NCUA’s directory to find your funds.

Be prepared to complete the Member Verification Form. The more information you provide, the faster the NCUA can find your property.

Find Unclaimed Money

The United States holds billions of dollars in unclaimed assets, some of which might be yours. If you still can’t find the money in your bank account, contact individual federal agencies to find out if they have property that belongs to you. A few options here:

• Department of Labor for missing paychecks

• IRS for uncashed refunds (you have three years from the date you filed to claim)

• US Treasury for bonds

Beyond that, search your home or wallet for any old gift cards. Some might still be valid and have unused funds. Check your digital wallet while you’re at it, since there could be cash sitting there.

And if you have a debit or credit card with cashback or other rewards, see if you can’t redeem them. You might not get a lot, but you never know. And besides, even a little bit helps.

Finding Unclaimed Retirement Accounts

Funds in your old bank accounts aren’t the only thing that can go missing. You might also have lost track of your 401(k) or other retirement account funds. This is fairly common, especially when you move around or change jobs frequently.

To find your old retirement accounts, you’ve got a couple of options. The first is to contact your old employer’s Human Resource department and ask about the account. They should at least be able to point you in the right direction.

You can also check out:

• Retirement Savings Lost and Found Database at lostandfound.dol.gov (for people over the age of 65)

• The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (for pension holders)

• The State of Unclaimed Property Registry

• the National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits

You’ll typically need some personal identifying info, like your SSN, so be prepared for that. You might also need an account, as is the case with the Retirement Savings Lost and Found Database.

What To Watch Out For

Claiming lost bank account (and retirement) funds almost always calls for sensitive personal information. Given this, only go through the official channels when searching for old accounts or submitting claims. There’s no need to risk your own security or getting targeted for scams.

If you’re not sure about the legitimacy of a site, check for tags like “an official website of the United States government.” Also, look for “HTTPS” in the URL.

And if someone contacts you claiming they’ve found your lost property, it’s most likely a scam. Official organizations won’t be the ones to reach out. Report them with the FTC or, at the very least, ignore their requests for information. 

FAQ

Can I find every bank account in my name?

There’s not a single directory, but you can find all bank accounts in your name. For still active accounts, start with any old financial documents you still have. These can be digital or otherwise. For closed accounts in your name, request a free ChexSystems report.

Is it possible to find bank accounts in someone else’s name?

You can typically only find someone else’s account if you have the legal authority to do so. For example, this could be if you’re a joint account holder. If you have the Power of Attorney or are a creditor, you may also be able to pull account information from open or closed accounts.

What info do I need to find old bank accounts?

In most cases, you’ll need your full legal name and Social Security Number. If you’re trying to find unclaimed property, it helps to know the city, state and ZIP code where you’ve lived before. Sometimes, like if you’re contacting your financial institution directly, you’ll also need your bank account number.

How long do banks keep records of old accounts?

Normally, banks have to keep account records for at least five years. However, yours might choose to keep those records for longer.

What happens to old or forgotten bank accounts?

The good news is that your old account funds aren’t going to simply disappear. Eventually, your bank might transfer funds from an inactive account to a state government. This is a process called escheatment. Your account might be closed in the process, but your property is kept safe.

Key Terms

• Unclaimed property — Money or assets, such as an inactive bank account or uncashed check, that a company turns over to the state after no owner contact for a set period.

• Dormancy period

  — The stretch of inactivity, often one year or more, after which property is legally considered unclaimed and must be reported to the state.

• Escheatment — The legal process of transferring unclaimed funds from a dormant account to a state government, which then holds them for the owner.

• NAUPA — The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators, which runs MissingMoney.com and maps every state and provincial program.

• ChexSystems — A consumer reporting agency that tracks banking history and provides a free report showing closed checking and savings accounts.

• Liquidated credit union — A credit union that has been closed by the NCUA, whose unclaimed member deposits can be recovered through the NCUA's directory.

• FDIC BankFind — A federal database for locating FDIC-insured banks and tracing mergers, closures and name changes back to 1934.

Sources

• NAUPA — What is unclaimed property?

• FDIC — Unclaimed Funds (failed banks) and FDIC BankFind

• NCUA — Unclaimed Deposits

• U.S. Department of Labor — Retirement Savings Lost and Found

• FTC — Consumer Advice

Summary generated by AI, verified by MoneyLion editors