Lost bank accounts and NS&I savings: how to trace them
Published · 3 min read · Figures checked . UK rules and rates change, so check the official sources below before you act.
Many people have an old bank, building society or NS&I account they have lost track of. This guide explains the free tracing routes, what details help, and what dormant accounts mean for your right to the money.
Who this guide is for
This guide is general information for anyone who thinks they have an old account or savings with a UK bank, building society or National Savings and Investments (NS&I) but no longer has the details. It is not personal advice. It does not cover lost pensions, which have a separate tracing service.
The information was checked on official pages on 13 October 2026.
Two main tracing routes
There are two free routes that most people start with, depending on who the savings might be with.
- NS&I Tracing Service: covers NS&I accounts and investments only, which includes Premium Bonds. NS&I says it aims to confirm accounts or investments within a month of receiving the application, though it may take longer at busy times.
- My Lost Account: run by UK Finance and the Building Societies Association. It can trace old accounts with other providers as well as NS&I. You set up an online profile, fill in a search form and choose the banks or building societies to search. You then get an email alert or a letter when the results are ready.
What details can help
NS&I lists the kind of information that helps its team search. Other providers will usually ask for similar things.
- Your full name and current address
- The address you had when you opened the account, and any previous addresses
- Any previous name, for example after marriage or divorce
- The approximate year the account was opened
- The approximate amount saved
For Premium Bonds, a holder's number can also help. NS&I says it is either 10 digits, 9 digits, or 8 digits followed by a letter, and it appears on most Premium Bonds documents. If you know it and the Bonds are in your name, you can register for an online account to see them.
Looking for someone else's savings
NS&I says you can only ask it to trace savings for another person if you are legally entitled to act for them. Examples it gives are holding a Power of Attorney or being the executor of a will. For Premium Bonds, a parent or guardian of a child under 16 can also search. Each person needs a separate application.
What dormant means
GOV.UK explains that a bank account is counted as dormant when it has been untouched for at least 15 years. After that, firms taking part in the Dormant Assets Scheme can transfer the balance to Reclaim Fund Ltd, which takes on responsibility for reclaims.
The important point is that the money still belongs to you. GOV.UK says owners can always reclaim what they are owed, at any point. If there is a dispute about a reclaim, the Financial Ombudsman Service can look at it.
The Scheme is being widened to cover other kinds of assets, such as some insurance and investment products. The details of which products are included are still being set, so it is worth checking the official pages for the latest position.
Differences across the UK
The sources above do not set out different tracing rules for England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. The rules for dealing with the affairs of someone who has died can differ between the four nations, so it is worth checking the official pages for where the person lived.
Check before you act
Online forms and processes can change, and one NS&I page showed a notice about maintenance when it was read. It is worth confirming the steps on the official pages linked below. Free guidance is available from MoneyHelper and Citizens Advice, and the Financial Ombudsman Service handles complaints about providers.
Sources
For information only. See our disclaimer and editorial standards. Spotted an error? Tell us.
