The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed banks and other financial institutions to deposit unclaimed balances and funds in dormant accounts to the apex bank accounts.
CBN also issued regulatory guidelines for account owners and beneficial owners to recover their funds dormant for up to 10 years.
The apex bank outlined the regulations in a document on Friday titled ‘Guidelines on Management of Dormant Account, Accounts, Unclaimed Balances and Other Financial Assets In Banks And Other Financial Institutions in Nigeria’.
A dormant account is a bank account that has remained inactive for at least one year.
The apex bank said the revised guidelines are a sequel to the conclusion of the review of the guidelines on the management of dormant accounts issued in October 2015.
The revised Guidelines, which operationalizes Section 72 of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020, followed engagement and consultations with relevant stakeholders, whose comments and recommendations were considered in the review process,” CBN said.
It, amongst others, standardises the management of dormant accounts, unclaimed balances and financial assets, and outlines the procedure for the administration of these balances, funds, and assets by banks and other financial institutions in Nigeria.
The modalities for the transfer of the relevant balances/funds/assets to the CBN, together with the revised templates for the rendition of quarterly returns to Banking Supervision Department or Other Financial Institutions Supervision Department (as the case may be) will be communicated subsequently.”
The financial regulator further said the guidelines supersede the previous guidelines, adding that they take effect immediately.
In the document, CBN said the objectives of the guidelines are to “identify dormant accounts/unclaimed balances and financial assets with a view to reuniting them with their beneficial owners”.
Hold the funds in trust for the beneficial owners; Standardize the management of dormant accounts/unclaimed balances and financial assets,” the apex bank said.
Establish a standard procedure for reclaim of warehoused.”
According to the financial regulator, eligible accounts are dormant account balances that have remained with the institution for 10 years and beyond.
Eligible dormant accounts/unclaimed balances and other financial assets shall include: Current, Savings and term deposits in local currency,” CBN add
Domiciliary accounts; deposits towards the purchase of shares and mutual investments; Prepaid card accounts and wallets; Government owned accounts;
Proceeds of uncleared and unpresented financial instruments belonging to customers or non-customers of FIs.”
Furthermore, the CBN said it will open and maintain an account earmarked for the purpose of warehousing unclaimed balances in eligible accounts.
