How long can a bank lock your account for suspicious activity?

Asked by: Brandt Bins  |  Last update: January 17, 2026
Score: 4.4/5 (70 votes)

In the case of fraud prevention or suspected illegal activity, the account may be frozen indefinitely while the bank investigates. In such cases, the length of the freeze may depend on the complexity of the case and legal requirements.

How long can a bank legally lock your account?

There is no set amount of time that an account may be frozen. Freezes are usually lifted once the account holder satisfies the conditions that led to the freeze. When a bank account is frozen, it may be because of money owed to another individual or business.

How do I unfreeze my bank account for suspicious activity?

How to unfreeze an account
  1. Contact your bank. The first step is to contact your bank and inquire about the reason for the freeze. ...
  2. Gather documentation. Depending on the reason for the freeze, you may need to provide documentation to your bank. ...
  3. Resolve the underlying issue. ...
  4. Wait for resolution.

How long does the bank lock you out of your account?

How long does a bank account stay locked? The length of time for a bank account freeze depends on your specific situation. For a bank error, the account may be locked for 7 to 10 days, though it could be potentially longer. If the problem is more complicated, the account may stay locked for up to 30 days or more.

How long can a bank freeze your account for an investigation?

The duration of a bank account freeze depends on the circumstances. There is no set time limit for how long a bank can keep an account frozen. The time it takes to unfreeze an account also varies.

How to Deal With Frozen Bank Accounts

40 related questions found

How long can a bank suspend your account for suspicious activity?

In the case of fraud prevention or suspected illegal activity, the account may be frozen indefinitely while the bank investigates. In such cases, the length of the freeze may depend on the complexity of the case and legal requirements.

Can I withdraw money from a frozen account?

When your Savings Account is frozen, it means that you are unable to withdraw funds from your account via the ATM or chequebook. You will be unable to transfer funds from or into your account. You will also be unable to leverage your Debit Card to make purchases from your account.

What do I do if my bank account is locked due to suspicious activity?

Some common reasons for suspicious activity freezes include large or unusual transactions, activity abroad you haven't notified the bank about, or a possibility of your card being compromised. Provide Documentation: The bank representative might ask you to verify your identity or explain the flagged transactions.

Can you withdraw money if your account is locked?

You can still receive deposits into frozen bank accounts, but withdrawals and transfers are not permitted. Banks may freeze bank accounts if they suspect illegal activity such as money laundering, terrorist financing, or writing bad checks.

How long does an account lockout last?

The Account lockout duration value will be set to 30 minutes by default once you set the value of Account lockout duration. You can change the value of Account lockout duration between 0~99999 minutes. If the value is 0, the account will remain locked out until an administrator unlocks it manually.

What happens if a bank closes your account for suspicious activity?

Sometimes, banks close an account without warning, meaning your funds are frozen and you can't make transactions or withdrawals. If there's money in the account, your bank must return it to you. That said, if they closed it due to concerns about illegal activity, they may hold the funds until further investigation.

Can we deposit money in a freeze account?

Despite the freeze, you can still see what's happening in your account and receive deposits like your salary. However, any money deposited during the freeze will remain in the account.

How to get money out of a restricted account?

Restricted accounts

A restricted account is one in which the bank will not allow the money to be withdrawn without a court order. To make a withdrawal, the guardian or conservator must first ask the judge for a court order.

Can money still go into a locked account?

Yes, credit transactions like deposits, refunds, and reversals will still be allowed when your card is in the locked status.

Can I sue a bank for restricting my account?

You Have A Right UNDER EFTA (Electronic fund transfers act) To Sue Any Bank That Unlawfully Keeps Your Money, Or Who Fails to Follow Your Instructions For Disbursing It. Banks owe you a duty to only give out funds that you authorize, and to only give out funds in the manner that you instruct them.

Can a bank account be permanently locked?

A blocked account generally refers to a financial account that has some limitations or restrictions placed upon it, temporarily or permanently. Accounts may be blocked or limited for a variety of reasons, including internal bank policies, external regulations, or via a court order or legal decision.

How long does it take to unlock a locked bank account?

It depends on the bank and the reason the account was frozen in the first place. If the account was frozen because of KYC, suspected money laundering or criminal activity, expect it to be frozen for 6 months or so.

Can I see my account balance if my account is frozen?

You will not be able to make a bank transfer or withdraw funds from it. Your scheduled payments will also be put on hold. However, it's not entirely inaccessible, as you can still monitor and check your balance in a frozen bank account. This freeze can be court-ordered or initiated by the bank itself.

How do I get money out of a blocked bank account?

Ask the court for permission to take out (withdrawal) funds from a blocked account (a bank or other account requiring a court order to deposit or withdraw funds).

How long can a bank legally freeze your account for suspicious activity?

How Long Can a Bank Freeze an Account for? There is no set timeline that banks have before they have to unfreeze an account.

How to get rid of suspicious activity?

What to do in case of suspicious activity
  1. Recognize suspicious activity. Before taking action, you need to be able to identify what constitutes suspicious activity. ...
  2. Isolate the endpoint. ...
  3. Scan for malware. ...
  4. Change your credentials. ...
  5. Report the incident. ...
  6. Strengthen security measures.

What do banks do for suspicious activity?

If banks suspect money laundering involving large sums of money, they must file reports on any illegal transactions. The reports come from a number of organizations that notify government officials of cash transfers that may include consumer theft, drug smuggling, organized crime, and other criminal activities.

Can a bank freeze your account and take your money?

When they win the right to a "levy" or "garnishment," the bank has to freeze all the funds in the account. Neither you nor anyone on a joint bank account will have access during that time. Restricted activities during a bank account freeze include: Withdrawals.

How long can a bank account be under investigation?

Within 10 days after you notify the bank, the bank is required to investigate its records for an error; if the matter is still unresolved after 10 days, the bank must temporarily credit your account for at least a portion of the disputed amount and continue investigating for 45 days.

How do I unblock my bank account?

The process of unblocking a bank account usually includes the following steps:
  1. Receiving a notification about account blocking. ...
  2. Finding out the reason for blocking the account. ...
  3. Establishment of contact with the servicing bank. ...
  4. Providing documentation/information for unblocking the account. ...
  5. Preliminary account control.