An old savings account, matured fixed deposit or account belonging to a deceased relative can be forgotten when contact details change or records are misplaced. RBI’s UDGAM portal provides a central place to search for certain unclaimed deposits transferred by participating banks to the Depositor Education and Awareness Fund.
UDGAM helps locate the bank holding the record. It does not approve the claim or transfer money. The depositor, nominee or legal heir must complete the claim with the respective bank.
What Is UDGAM?
UDGAM stands for Unclaimed Deposits – Gateway to Access inforMation. The official portal is available at udgam.rbi.org.in.
Under the DEA Fund framework, eligible credit balances that remain unclaimed or inoperative for ten years or more are transferred by banks. The depositor’s right to claim the money remains, subject to verification by the bank.
Inoperative Account vs Unclaimed Deposit
| Term | General meaning |
|---|---|
| Inoperative account | An account classified as inactive under applicable banking rules |
| Unclaimed deposit | A deposit unclaimed or inoperative for the applicable ten-year period |
| UDGAM result | A record helping identify the relevant bank |
| Claim | The bank’s process for verifying and paying an eligible claimant |
What Details Are Needed?
Registration generally requires the user’s name and mobile number. For an individual search, enter the account holder’s name, select the relevant bank and use an available identifier such as PAN, driving licence, voter ID, passport or date of birth. An address can be used when permitted and other identifiers are unavailable.
A search match is not proof of ownership. The bank must verify the claimant and supporting records.
How to Search UDGAM
- Open the official RBI portal directly and confirm the domain ends in rbi.org.in.
- Register with a mobile number you control.
- Enter the account holder’s name as it may appear in old records.
- Select banks where the person may have held an account.
- Add an accurate supported identifier or historical address.
- Save the bank name and reference shown in the result.
- Open the bank’s official claim instructions.
- Submit the required claim documents to the bank and obtain acknowledgement.
What UDGAM Can and Cannot Do
| UDGAM can | UDGAM cannot |
|---|---|
| Help locate eligible unclaimed-deposit records | Release the money |
| Identify the relevant bank | Decide who is the lawful heir |
| Provide a search reference | Replace KYC and succession verification |
| Reduce separate bank searches | Find every type of financial asset |
Documents Commonly Required
A living depositor may be asked for a claim form, identity and address documents, updated KYC, a photograph, passbook or deposit receipt where available, signature verification and current bank details.
For a deceased depositor, the bank may require the death certificate, nominee or heir documents, proof of relationship and succession-related records depending on nomination, joint holding, amount and disputes among heirs.
What If No Result Appears?
- Check spelling and legitimate name variations.
- Try an older address or another permitted identifier.
- Search the bank’s own unclaimed-deposit facility.
- Check whether the original bank merged with another institution.
- Review old passbooks, tax records, emails and deposit receipts.
- Contact the bank directly with available evidence.
UDGAM does not cover insurance proceeds, provident fund, mutual funds, company dividends or every other financial asset.
Scam Warning Signs
- Guaranteed recovery or an advance release fee
- A request for OTP, PIN or online-banking password
- Remote access to your phone or computer
- Payment to a personal UPI account
- A shortened or misspelled RBI link
- A claim that a search result proves inheritance
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I claim directly from RBI?
No. UDGAM helps locate the deposit; the claim must be submitted to the bank.
Is money lost after transfer to the DEA Fund?
No. An eligible claimant can still approach the bank, subject to verification.
Can a nominee or legal heir search?
They can use permitted information, but a match does not establish legal entitlement.
Does UDGAM cover every bank?
Coverage depends on participating banks and records available through the live portal.
Conclusion
UDGAM makes it easier to locate certain unclaimed bank deposits, but discovery is only the first step. Preserve the result securely, communicate directly with the bank and never pay anyone who promises guaranteed recovery or requests passwords and OTPs.
