I lost a loved one in 2006..
Can I still lay claim to her account in bank, in 2026?
Fokona Latest Questions
Please briefly explain why you feel this question should be reported.
Please briefly explain why you feel this answer should be reported.
Please briefly explain why you feel this user should be reported.
Yes, you can still potentially claim it. The fact that your loved one died in 2006 does not automatically mean the money is lost. For example, imagine your aunt died in 2006 and had ₦500,000 in a bank account. Nobody operated the account for many years, so the account eventually became dormant and tRead more
Yes, you can still potentially claim it. The fact that your loved one died in 2006 does not automatically mean the money is lost.
For example, imagine your aunt died in 2006 and had ₦500,000 in a bank account. Nobody operated the account for many years, so the account eventually became dormant and the money could have been transferred to the CBN’s Unclaimed Balances Trust Fund.
As her beneficiary, you can still start the process of establishing your entitlement.
The first thing I would do is contact the bank where she had the account and explain that the account holder died in 2006. Take whatever documents you have, such as:
• Her full name and old account details, if available
• Death certificate
• Your valid means of identification
• Documents showing your relationship to her
• Probate/Letters of Administration or other legal evidence showing who is entitled to administer or inherit her estate
If the money has already been transferred to the CBN’s Unclaimed Balances Trust Fund, the bank can help you begin the reclaim process. The CBN also provides a way to search for unclaimed balances.
One important point: being the next-of-kin does not necessarily mean you can simply walk into the bank and withdraw the money. You may need the appropriate legal documents proving your right to act for the deceased’s estate.
For example, if three siblings are the beneficiaries, the bank will not normally just give one sibling the entire ₦500,000 because that person says, “I am the eldest.” The bank will require proper evidence of who is legally entitled to the funds.
So after 20 years, don’t assume the money is gone. Start by tracing the account and establishing your legal entitlement. The CBN’s current guidelines state that beneficiaries can reclaim eligible unclaimed balances and that the right to reclaim is indefinite.
See lessYes. If the loved one died in 2006, you may still be able to claim money held in her Nigerian bank account in 2026. The fact that 20 years have passed does not automatically mean the money is lost. The CBN's current rules specifically provide for reclaiming dormant/unclaimed balances by a legal reprRead more
Yes. If the loved one died in 2006, you may still be able to claim money held in her Nigerian bank account in 2026. The fact that 20 years have passed does not automatically mean the money is lost.
See lessThe CBN’s current rules specifically provide for reclaiming dormant/unclaimed balances by a legal representative, beneficiary or next-of-kin, provided the required evidence of entitlement is supplied. �
Central Bank of Nigeria
What you should do
1. Identify the bank and account
Find out the bank where she maintained the account.
If you know the account number, keep it.
If you don’t know the account number, the bank may still be able to investigate using her full name and other identifying information, subject to its verification procedures.
2. Establish that you have legal authority to claim If she died without leaving the money directly to you through an appropriate legal arrangement, you normally cannot simply walk into the bank and withdraw it because you are her child/relative.
You will generally need Probate or Letters of Administration or other appropriate evidence establishing your legal entitlement to the estate. CBN rules recognize executors/administrators for winding up a deceased person’s estate. �
Central Bank of Nigeria +1
3. Check whether the money has been transferred to the CBN’s Unclaimed Balances Trust Fund
After prolonged dormancy, qualifying balances can be transferred to the CBN. The CBN now provides an online search facility where you can search for unclaimed balances by account name or account number. �
CBN Unclaimed Balance Trust Fund
CBN Unclaimed Balance Trust Fund search�
4. If you find the account, approach the bank The CBN’s current guidance says a next-of-kin, legal representative or beneficial owner can make a claim through the financial institution, supported by the necessary legal evidence of title. �
Central Bank of Nigeria
Important point
If your loved one died in 2006, I would not start by assuming the money is still sitting at the original bank branch. There is a good possibility that, if the account remained untouched for many years, it may now be classified as a dormant/unclaimed balance and potentially transferred to the CBN’s trust fund.
Also, there is no fee for processing an unclaimed-balance reclaim under the CBN’s stated guidelines. �