Have you ever opened a savings account years ago and forgotten about it? Or perhaps a relative passed away without you knowing they left behind an investment or premium bond winnings? If so, you could be one of the many people in the UK with unclaimed money sitting in dormant accounts or other financial assets.
Across the United Kingdom, billions of pounds lie unclaimed in banks, building societies, pensions, insurance policies, and even court funds. Fortunately, there are official and free tools that can help you check whether some of that money could be yours. In this article, we’ll walk you through what unclaimed money means, where it can come from, and—most importantly—how you can check if you’re owed anything and claim it.
What Is Unclaimed Money?
Unclaimed money refers to financial assets that have been inactive or untouched for a certain period—typically many years—and whose owners can no longer be contacted by the institution holding the funds.
Some common sources of unclaimed money in the UK include:
- Forgotten bank or building society accounts
- Unclaimed Premium Bond winnings
- Life insurance policies
- Inactive pension pots
- Overpaid utility bills
- Inheritance from relatives (Bona Vacantia estates)
- Money held by courts (Unclaimed Court Funds)
If you’ve changed your address, name, or bank details without informing every institution you’ve had contact with, it’s very possible you have money waiting for you.
How Much Unclaimed Money Is There?
As of recent estimates, there is over £1 billion in unclaimed bank and building society accounts alone. NS&I (National Savings and Investments) reports more than £97 million in unclaimed Premium Bond prizes, some dating back decades.
In short, there’s a decent chance that some of this could belong to you or a family member—especially if you’re the executor of an estate.
Step-by-Step: How to Find Unclaimed Money in the UK
1. Search for Lost Bank Accounts – My Lost Account
One of the most popular and effective tools for finding forgotten money is the free service My Lost Account.
This platform allows you to search for:
- Lost bank accounts
- Dormant building society accounts
- National Savings & Investments (NS&I) products, including Premium Bonds
To use it:
- Go to the website and click on “Start your search.”
- Select which type of account you want to search for.
- Complete the online form with as much detail as possible.
- Submit your request.
Each participating bank or building society will respond directly to you, and the process may take up to three months, depending on the case.
2. Check for Unclaimed Premium Bond Winnings – NS&I
NS&I reports that millions of pounds in Premium Bond prizes remain unclaimed. If you—or someone in your family—bought Premium Bonds at any time, it’s worth checking whether you’ve won something and missed the notification.
To check:
- Use the NS&I Prize Checker
- Download the official NS&I app
- Call NS&I customer service with your bond holder number
There is no time limit on claiming Premium Bond prizes, even if the prize was won years ago.
3. Search for Unclaimed Estates – Bona Vacantia
If someone dies intestate (without a will) and without known heirs, their estate is handled by the government under Bona Vacantia rules.
The UK government publishes a regularly updated list of unclaimed estates. If you believe a deceased relative might have left an estate behind:
- Visit the Bona Vacantia website
- Download the full list or search by surname
- If you find a match, you can submit a claim to prove your relationship
This is particularly important if you’ve lost contact with extended family members over time.
4. Check for Unclaimed Court Money
If you’ve been involved in legal proceedings or are the heir of someone who was, there might be unclaimed court funds in your name.
Use the UK government’s online service:
- Visit Find Unclaimed Court Money
- Enter your name to search the database
If a match is found, the site will give you instructions on how to proceed with your claim through the Court Funds Office.
5. Use New Services Like Gretel
Gretel is a relatively new but official and free platform that helps users search across multiple financial products, including pensions, bank accounts, and investments. It’s a helpful alternative if you don’t want to submit separate forms to different institutions.
You’ll need to create an account and provide personal details, and Gretel will notify you if they find a match with any financial institutions.
Is It Safe to Use These Services?
Yes. All the services listed above are free, secure, and either run by the UK government or trusted financial institutions. You should never pay to search for unclaimed money.
Be cautious of any website or person who asks you to pay upfront to search for lost accounts or unclaimed funds—they could be scammers.
How to Prevent Losing Track of Money in the Future
Here are a few simple tips to avoid leaving money behind:
- Keep a detailed list of all your accounts, investments, pensions, and insurance policies
- Update your contact information regularly with all financial providers
- Nominate beneficiaries where possible (especially for pensions and life insurance)
- Inform trusted family members of your financial arrangements
- Review your financial documents annually
Final Thoughts
Unclaimed money may sound like a myth to some, but it’s a very real and widespread issue in the UK. Whether it’s a forgotten bank account, a long-lost Premium Bond prize, or an inheritance you didn’t know existed, taking a little time to check could result in a welcome financial boost.
Most importantly, it’s free to check. So why not take 10 minutes today to search? That forgotten tenner—or even something much larger—might just be waiting for you.