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UDGAM Portal: Check for Unclaimed Bank Deposits First
The UDGAM portal is the Reserve Bank of India's free website for checking whether banks are holding an unclaimed deposit in a person's name. It is a good first check. But finding the account is the easy part: when the holder has died, there is no nominee, the names do not match or the heirs live abroad, getting the money out of the bank is where most families get stuck.
UDGAM (udgam.rbi.org.in) lets you search, free of cost, for unclaimed deposits across participating banks using the account holder's name and an identifier such as PAN or date of birth. It only shows where the money is. The claim itself is made with the bank, and that is where death, nominee and documentation problems come up.
What the UDGAM portal does
The RBI launched UDGAM in August 2023 so people no longer have to write to bank after bank. A savings account becomes inoperative after 2 years without transactions; after 10 years the balance moves to the RBI's Depositor Education and Awareness (DEA) Fund. The bank still pays the rightful claimant, and there is no time limit to claim.
How to check on UDGAM in three steps
- Register on udgam.rbi.org.in with your name and mobile number (type the address yourself; avoid links sent on WhatsApp).
- Search with the account holder's name, the banks you think are possible and one identifier.
- Note the result, including the reference number and bank, and contact that bank to claim.
If the account holder is alive and the claim is in their own name with current KYC, the bank usually handles it directly. You may not need any help.
When UDGAM is not enough
| Your situation | Why it gets difficult | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| The account holder has died | The bank needs a death claim, heirship proof and agreement from all heirs | Claim a deceased parent's investments |
| There is no nominee | Heirs need no-objections, an indemnity and, for larger amounts, court papers | Claim without a nominee |
| Nothing shows up, but you know an account existed | Old accounts may be under a different name spelling, a merged bank or a bank not on the portal | Bank deposit claim services |
| You or the heirs live abroad | Documents need notarisation or apostille, and the bank's process has to be run from outside India | NRI unclaimed asset recovery |
| The family also held shares, insurance or funds | Each institution has its own claim route and documents | Free initial case review |
How Expertvuw helps
We trace what the family held across banks and other institutions, prepare the claim and heirship documents, and follow up with the bank until the claim is decided. You stay the applicant, and the money is paid only into your own bank account. We are a private company and are not affiliated with the RBI or any bank.
Frequently asked questions
Is the UDGAM portal free to use?
Yes. Registration and search on the RBI's UDGAM portal are free. Be careful of anyone asking for payment or your bank login to "search UDGAM" for you. Expertvuw never asks for net-banking passwords or OTPs.
Can I claim money directly on UDGAM?
No. UDGAM only shows that a bank holds an unclaimed deposit. The claim is made with the bank itself, with KYC and, if the holder has died, the death and heirship documents the bank asks for.
What if the account holder died without a nominee?
Legal heirs can still claim. Under RBI's 2025 directions, smaller claims can be settled on simpler documents, while larger ones may need court papers. See our page on claiming without a nominee.
Can NRIs use UDGAM?
NRIs can search if they can register with a mobile number. The claim then runs through the bank, usually with documents signed and attested abroad. We help NRI families with this through our NRI service.
Request a free initial case review
Tell us briefly what you have. We will review it and explain which official route applies and whether you need help at all.
🔒 Strictly confidential. No charges for assessment. No obligation to proceed.
Found something but stuck on the claim?
Tell us what the search showed and who the holder was. We will explain which route applies and whether you need help at all. WhatsApp or call +91 88829 91427 (10 AM – 7 PM, Monday to Saturday), or book a free initial case review.
Expertvuw Management Pvt Ltd is a private company. We are not affiliated with or authorised by the RBI, IRDAI, LIC, SEBI, AMFI, any bank, fund house or registrar. The official search tools and claim routes are free; our role is documentation, heirship paperwork and follow-up support. The claimant remains the applicant and all money is paid directly into the claimant's own account. Last updated: 28 September 2026. Reviewed by: Expertvuw compliance team.