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If your bank account is not used for a long time, it becomes ‘dormant’ i.e. inactive. According to the rules of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), if there is no transaction from the customer in a bank account for 10 years, then the bank puts it in the ‘inactive’ category. This includes savings, current accounts and fixed deposits, which remain open even after maturity. Due to this, many services like withdrawing money from the account, doing online transactions etc. stop.

The first step to reactivate a deactivated account is to update your KYC. For this, you will have to go to the main branch of the bank and bring your Aadhaar, PAN, a recent photograph and address proof.

The bank verifies your identity and documents and then submits the reactivation request. Sometimes the bank asks you to do small transactions like depositing or withdrawing Rs 100, so that the customer’s activity can be recorded.

RBI has clearly stated that banks cannot levy any charges on ‘inoperative’ accounts. However, service charges like SMS charges, minimum balance penalty or check book charges may be applicable after account reactivation. This process may take a few days as many customers’ documents are outdated, mobile numbers have changed or signatures do not match.

Even if the bank has transferred your balance to RBI’s Depositor Education and Awareness Fund (DEAF) after 10 years, your money will still be safe. After account reactivation, you can make a claim from RBI through the bank. This process is the longest, as it involves a detailed check of your past records, signatures and identification.

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As per RBI rules, physical verification is required for inoperative accounts. Therefore, you should start the process by visiting the branch.