My Lost Account UK: how it works and what it does not find
Most people searching for it fall into one of two situations: they have found references to an account that may no longer be active, or they are dealing with the estate of someone who has died and need to find accounts they did not know existed. This guide explains how the service works, what it covers, and where it falls short.
My Lost Account is a free service that helps people trace dormant bank accounts, building society accounts, and National Savings and Investments (NS&I) products. It is run by UK Finance, the Building Societies Association, and NS&I jointly.
Most people searching for it fall into one of two situations: they have found references to an account that may no longer be active, or they are dealing with the estate of someone who has died and need to find accounts they did not know existed. This guide explains how the service works, what it covers, and where it falls short.
What My Lost Account does
The service searches for accounts that have been classified as lost by their provider. An account is typically classed as lost after there has been no customer contact for an extended period, often around 15 years, and attempts to reach the account holder have been unsuccessful.
You submit a single application through the My Lost Account website. The information you provide is then sent to the account providers you select. Each provider searches its own records and contacts you directly if a match is found.
The service is free. The website explicitly warns against paying any third party to carry out the same search.
Who runs it and who participates
My Lost Account is operated jointly by UK Finance, the Building Societies Association, and NS&I. Over 70 account providers participate, including all major banks, UK building societies, and NS&I.
The service covers defunct institution names as well as current ones. If you are trying to trace an account held with a bank or building society that no longer exists under its original name (Abbey National, Alliance and Leicester, Bradford and Bingley, Halifax, Northern Rock, and others) the service can match those names to their successor providers.
How to use the service
Create a profile on the My Lost Account website at mylostaccount.org.uk
Complete the search form with as much information as possible about the account holder and the account
Select the account providers you want to search
Submit. The information goes to the selected providers, who carry out their own searches
You will receive either an email or a letter from each provider with the result
The more information you can provide (account holder name, previous addresses, approximate dates, account type) the more likely a match is.
If you are searching as an executor or next of kin for a deceased person's accounts, you will need to provide a date of death. The service can be used in this context, though the My Lost Account website notes it is not designed to be the primary route for settling the banking affairs of someone who has died. For active accounts the first step should be contacting banks directly; My Lost Account is specifically for accounts that have been classified as dormant or lost.
What happens to money in dormant accounts
After 15 years of no contact, the money in a lost account may be transferred to Reclaim Fund Ltd (RFL) under a statutory scheme. RFL retains a portion to meet future reclaims and distributes the surplus to The National Lottery Community Fund, which directs it to social and environmental initiatives across the UK.
This transfer does not extinguish the account holder's entitlement. Banks and building societies continue to hold records of the account, and the money remains the legal property of the account holder or their heirs in perpetuity. A successful My Lost Account search can still recover funds even after they have been transferred to RFL.
It is worth noting that the Dormant Assets Act 2022 expanded the dormant assets scheme beyond banks and building societies to include insurance, pensions, investments, and securities. However, My Lost Account itself still covers only bank accounts, building society accounts, and NS&I products. Separate routes are needed for other asset types, as set out below.
What My Lost Account does not cover
This is where most people are caught out. My Lost Account covers a narrower range of accounts than most families assume when searching for a deceased person's finances.
It does not cover:
Pension funds or pension schemes of any kind
ISAs held with investment platforms
Stocks, shares, or investment accounts
Insurance policies, including life insurance
NS&I Premium Bonds (these have a separate prize checker at nsandi.com, but Premium Bonds themselves can be traced through NS&I directly or via My Lost Account if the account is dormant)
Business or charity accounts
Accounts held overseas
It only covers:
Personal bank accounts (current and savings) classified as lost
Building society accounts classified as lost
NS&I products classified as dormant
The "classified as lost" distinction matters. My Lost Account cannot trace active accounts where the bank still has contact details. If the deceased's account was being used up until recently, the bank will not have classified it as lost, and a direct approach to the bank is the right route.
What to use instead for accounts My Lost Account does not cover
Pensions: The Pension Tracing Service is the equivalent service for lost pensions. It is free and run by the government. See our guide on [Pension Tracing Service UK].
NS&I Premium Bonds: Use the prize checker at nsandi.com, or contact NS&I directly by phone or post. NS&I holds records of all Premium Bond holders.
Investment accounts and ISAs: There is no single central tracing service for these. The most practical approach is to search bank statements, email records, and correspondence for references to platforms or providers, then contact each one directly. The unclaimed assets register (uar.co.uk) covers some investment accounts and can be worth checking.
Life insurance and protection policies: The Association of British Insurers (ABI) runs a free Unclaimed Assets Register search for life insurance and pension policies at abi.org.uk/mylostsavings. This is separate from My Lost Account.
Shares and investment accounts: Computershare and Equiniti are the two main share registrars in the UK and hold records for many listed company shares. Contacting them directly can trace shareholdings in specific companies.
My Lost Account and estate administration
For families and executors, My Lost Account is one tool among several rather than a complete solution. It covers the dormant bank and building society account side. The full picture of a deceased person's finances typically requires:
Direct contact with banks and building societies for active accounts
My Lost Account for dormant accounts
Pension Tracing Service for lost pensions
NS&I directly for Premium Bonds and other NS&I products
ABI register for lost insurance and pension policies
Individual insurers and investment platforms for recent or active policies
Pulling all of this together while simultaneously managing probate, death certificates, and the practical demands of bereavement takes considerable time and coordination.
Legacy Trail helps families and executors identify accounts across all these categories and notify organisations centrally. Find out more at [legacytrail.co.uk].
Useful links
My Lost Account: mylostaccount.org.uk
NS&I Premium Bond prize checker: nsandi.com/get-your-number/prize-checker
Pension Tracing Service (gov.uk): gov.uk/find-pension-contact-details
ABI lost insurance and pension policies: abi.org.uk/products-and-issues/topics-and-issues/unclaimed-assets
Unclaimed assets register: uar.co.uk
Reclaim Fund Ltd (dormant accounts scheme): reclaimfund.co.uk
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Individual circumstances vary. If you are dealing with an estate, consider taking advice from a solicitor who specialises in probate. For other guidance specific to your circumstances, speak to a funeral director, Citizens Advice, or a regulated financial adviser.