Unclaimed Fixed Deposit Claim Help for Company and NBFC Deposits

How a company or NBFC fixed deposit becomes unclaimed

Many families invested in company and NBFC fixed deposits in the 1990s and 2000s, often through paper receipts. When the deposit matured, the company sent a repayment cheque or credited the bank account on record. If the cheque was never banked, the address had changed or the account was closed, the money stayed with the company as a matured but unclaimed fixed deposit.

Under Section 125 of the Companies Act, matured deposits (and matured debentures) that remain unclaimed for 7 years are transferred by the company to the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF). The depositor or heirs can still claim them after that.

Company FD not paid after maturity: what to do first

If a company FD was not paid after maturity, the first step is simple and free:

1. Find the FD receipt, certificate or any letter showing the deposit number and company name.
2. Write to the company's investor service department or its registrar with your KYC and current bank details.
3. Ask whether the amount is still with the company or has been transferred to the IEPF.

If the amount is still with the company, it pays directly into your bank account after verification. Many depositors resolve this themselves.

IEPF-5 fixed deposit claim: the official route after 7 years

Once the deposit has moved to the IEPF, the IEPF-5 fixed deposit claim follows the same official route as shares and dividends:

1. Obtain confirmation of entitlement from the company.
2. File Form IEPF-5 online on the IEPFA's integrated claims portal.
3. The company e-verifies the claim.
4. IEPFA decides and credits the amount to the claimant's bank account.

There is no time limit for claims from the IEPF, and filing IEPF-5 costs nothing. A new Form IEPF-5 has applied since 6 October 2025 (G.S.R. 733(E)), and the integrated portal, live from October 2025, offers pre-filled forms with PAN and OTP verification. IEPFA's helpline is 14453.

NBFC FD matured but not received

NBFCs that accept public deposits are regulated by the RBI under the NBFC Acceptance of Public Deposits Directions, 2025 (November 2025). If an NBFC FD matured but was not received, write to the NBFC's grievance or deposits desk with the receipt details, KYC and bank mandate. Keep copies and dated acknowledgements of everything you send.

Where the NBFC is a company, matured deposits unclaimed for 7 years also move to the IEPF, so the IEPF-5 route above may apply to older amounts.

If the NBFC or housing finance company has failed

For information only: when an NBFC or HFC goes through insolvency under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, deposit holders file claims (Form CA) with the administrator by the notified date. Representation in that process is handled by insolvency professionals. Expertvuw does not act in IBC proceedings; watch the administrator's public notices for the claim date.

Deceased father's company FD claim

A deceased father's company FD is a situation many families face. The route depends on the paperwork:

• Joint holder or nominee exists: the survivor or nominee claims with the death certificate and their KYC.
• No nominee: legal heirs claim with proof of heirship; the company may ask for a legal heir certificate or succession certificate depending on the amount and its policy.
• Deposit not yet matured: for NBFC deposits, RBI rules permit premature repayment to the nominee, joint holder or heir on the depositor's death.

Where is the money now? A quick guide

When families usually need help

• Only an old paper receipt survives, and the company has since changed its name or merged.
• The depositor has died without a nominee and heirs are spread across cities or countries.
• Names or addresses on the receipt do not match current ID.
• The company is not responding to letters.
• Several deposits, shares and bank accounts of the same person need to be claimed together.

How Expertvuw helps

You remain the claimant, and money is credited only to your own bank account.

1. Review: we look at the receipts, company history and family position.
2. Tracing and documents: we help establish where the deposit now sits and put KYC and heirship papers in order.
3. Filing and follow-up: we coordinate with the company or NBFC and support the IEPF-5 process where it applies. Court petitions, if needed, are filed by advocates, and we coordinate the documentation.
4. Credit: we follow the case until the amount is credited.

Why Expertvuw

• Registered company with offices in Dwarka, Delhi and Udyog Vihar, Gurugram.
• IEPF processes are familiar ground, as share and IEPF recovery is our lead practice.
• One team for deposits, shares, dividends, bonds and insurance.
• Pan-India and NRI families; plain-language updates at every stage.
• Not affiliated with IEPFA, the RBI or any company.

Related services

• IEPF claim services
• Unclaimed bank deposit claims
• Unclaimed bonds and debentures
• Claim a deceased parent's investments
• Succession certificate and legal heir support

Frequently asked questions

What happens to an unclaimed fixed deposit with a company?

A matured company deposit that is not collected stays with the company for 7 years. During that time you can claim it directly from the company or its registrar. After 7 years, Section 125 of the Companies Act requires the company to transfer it to the IEPF, from where you claim it through Form IEPF-5.

My company FD was not paid after maturity. Whom should I contact?

Write to the company's investor service department or its registrar, quoting the deposit number from your receipt, with KYC and current bank details. Ask whether the amount is still with the company or has moved to the IEPF. Keep dated copies of every letter and acknowledgement you receive.

How does an IEPF-5 fixed deposit claim work?

First obtain confirmation of your entitlement from the company. Then file Form IEPF-5 online on the IEPFA's integrated claims portal. The company e-verifies the claim, after which IEPFA decides and credits the amount to your bank account. There is no time limit, and filing costs nothing.

My NBFC FD matured but was not received. What can I do?

Write to the NBFC's deposits or grievance desk with the receipt details, KYC and a bank mandate, and keep proof of delivery. NBFC deposits are regulated by the RBI under the 2025 Public Deposits Directions. If the amount has been unclaimed for 7 years, check whether it has moved to the IEPF.

How do I claim my deceased father's company FD?

If there is a joint holder or nominee, they claim with the death certificate and their KYC. Without a nominee, legal heirs claim with proof of heirship, and the company may ask for a legal heir or succession certificate. For NBFC deposits, RBI rules permit premature repayment to heirs after the depositor's death.

What if the NBFC that held my deposit has gone into insolvency?

Under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, deposit holders file claims in Form CA with the administrator by the notified date. Representation in that process is handled by insolvency professionals, and Expertvuw does not act in IBC proceedings. Watch the administrator's public notices closely, as late claims can be difficult.

Can I claim a company FD if I have lost the receipt?

Yes, it is often still possible. Write to the company with whatever details you have, such as the approximate year, name of holders, bank statements showing the investment or interest, or old correspondence. The company can trace the deposit from its records and tell you what it needs to proceed.

Is professional help required for company deposit claims?

No. The company and IEPF routes are free, and many depositors complete simple claims themselves. Families approach us when records are old, the depositor has died, or the company has merged. We offer a free initial case review; get in touch with our team.