Do banks charge for inactive accounts?

Asked by: Breanna Donnelly  |  Last update: June 7, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (37 votes)

A dormancy fee, also known as an inactivity fee, is charged when there's no activity on an account for a certain period of time. After a specified amount of time that varies by state, banks must escheat the funds of inactive accounts, meaning they're required to turn the funds over to the state.

Can a bank charge an inactivity fee?

Yes, the Bank may charge inactivity fees on checking accounts, including the particular accounts you asked about. There is nothing in the Banking Law that would preclude the Bank from assessing inactivity fees on checking accounts, but the fees should be disclosed and be consistent with account documentation.

Is there a penalty for an inactive bank account?

The financial institution begins charging an inactivity fee.

Some banks charge zero, but others slap on fees of $5 to $15 per month. Look for these fees on your monthly bank statement, or on your bank's app.

What happens if a bank account is inactive?

When an account becomes inactive, it means that the account holder has not made any deposits, withdrawals, or other transactions within the specified time frame. Inactive accounts are essentially dormant or idle, and they do not generate any significant activity or transactions.

How long can a bank account be inactive before it is closed?

Inactive Accounts

Generally, an account is considered abandoned or unclaimed when there is no customer-initiated activity or contact for a period of three to five years. The specific period is based on the escheatment laws of each state.

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38 related questions found

Can a bank charge for a dormant account?

No. Banks are not supposed to charge for reactivation of dormant accounts.

What happens to money in inactive bank accounts?

The bank may be trying to alert you that your account is inactive. If the account remains inactive, it may be classified as abandoned, and your funds may be turned over to the state. This practice may also be referred to as escheatment.

What's the danger of an inactive account?

These dormant accounts can pose a significant security risk, primarily because they are often overlooked or forgotten, yet still possess access privileges. As a result, they may become vulnerable to unauthorised access or misuse.

Do banks freeze accounts due to inactivity?

Inactive accounts with no transaction history can raise concerns and incur unnecessary maintenance costs. To mitigate risks, banks may freeze and eventually close such accounts after a period of dormancy.

What is the difference between inactive and dormant accounts?

If you have not used a savings account to transact for over 12 months, your account becomes inactive. If your account has been inactive for 24 months, it becomes dormant. Activity threshold typically involves no deposits, withdrawals, or transactions made within the bank's specified timeframe.

Is there a charge for an inactive account?

Banks may charge checking or savings account holders an inactivity fee if there are no deposits, withdrawals, transfers, or payments through their accounts. Brokerage and investment firms may require a minimum number of transactions per year or they may charge an inactivity fee.

Why do banks charge customers who have inactive accounts?

“There is a cost to financial institutions of maintaining accounts, and especially so on accounts with small balances, so a dormancy or inactivity fee is often used as a prod to use the account or close it.

Can money be deposited into an inactive bank account?

If you don't make any transactions with an account for a long time, usually a year, your bank could change its status to dormant. This means you won't be able to use it to pay for goods and services or deposit or withdraw money into or from that account.

Why do banks charge off accounts?

Yes, your account may be charged off if your payments haven't met the monthly minimum and your account becomes delinquent. Your account may also be charged off if you file for bankruptcy.

What does an inactive charge mean?

Example: A criminal case should be Placed on Inactive Status if the Defendant has absconded, an arrest order has been issued, and the court has suspended activity until the defendant is apprehended and returned to court so that the court can resume proceedings in the case.

What happens if I withdraw all my money from my bank account?

Unless your bank has set a withdrawal limit of its own, you are free to take as much out of your bank account as you would like. It is, after all, your money. Here's the catch: If you withdraw $10,000 or more, it will trigger federal reporting requirements.

What happens if bank account is inactive for a long time?

If your account has been inactive for an extended time, it may be classified as a dormant account, restricting you from making payments, withdrawals, or transfers. According to RBI guidelines, a savings or current account is considered inactive or dormant if there have been no transactions for over two years.

How long before a bank account is closed for inactivity?

Typically, an account may be considered inactive after 12 to 24 months of no transactions. If it remains inactive, the bank might close the account, usually after notifying the account holder. It's best to check with your specific bank for their policies on inactive accounts to get the most accurate information.

What happens to my bank account if I don't use it?

The Savings Account becomes Inactive or Dormant

For instance, if you haven't carried out any transaction through your Savings Account for more than a year, then it is classified as "Inactive." Similarly, if you do not transact using your Savings Account for more than 24 months, it is classified as a Dormant Account.

Why should you disable inactive accounts?

Even though the accounts are inactive they may still contain valuable personal information such as company data, passwords, financial data etc. By monitoring these accounts, we can promptly identify and deactivate this sensitive information, reducing the risk of exposure and identity theft.

Can I withdraw money from inactive account?

When an account becomes dormant, it remains open but inactive, and the account holder cannot use certain features like online banking or ATM withdrawals. Banks may have policies to handle dormant accounts, such as charging fees, restricting access, or transferring funds to a separate account.

Do banks delete inactive accounts?

Even if you maintain a balance but rarely engage in any activity such as online transfers or deposits for an extended time your bank may consider your account dormant and close your account.

Is there a penalty for inactive bank account?

There are no fees for reactivating dormant accounts, and banks cannot impose penalties for not maintaining minimum balances in such accounts. It's important to note that banks must still pay interest on savings accounts regularly, regardless of whether the account is active or not.

What happens if there is no activity in bank account?

At this point, the bank can close the account. If there is no current contact information on file for you, the bank can send any funds in the account to the state. The money then becomes unclaimed property. All of this is allowed under state escheatment rules.

Is it bad to have inactive bank accounts?

An open account which is unused may make you more vulnerable to fraudsters, who may pretend to be you in order to spend money in your name. This is because you are less likely to be checking regularly and spot any problems on an account that you are not using.