Unclaimed Money in Canada
Canada's unclaimed money system operates at both the federal and provincial levels. At the federal level, the Bank of Canada holds over $1.6 billion in unclaimed balances from federally regulated banks across approximately 3.4 million accounts — balances that have been inactive for 10 years and where the bank has been unable to locate the owner. At the provincial level, each province maintains its own unclaimed property register covering items such as uncashed cheques, security deposits, and court funds.
What We Search for You
Bank of Canada
Holds unclaimed balances from all federally regulated Canadian banks — TD, RBC, Scotiabank, BMO, CIBC, and many more. Accounts inactive for 10+ years are transferred here.
BC Unclaimed Property Society
The BCUPS holds unclaimed property for British Columbia residents — dormant accounts, uncashed cheques, and deposits from BC financial institutions.
Alberta Unclaimed Property
Alberta Treasury Board and Finance holds unclaimed property for Alberta residents including bank balances, insurance proceeds, and utility deposits.
Ontario & Quebec
Ontario's Ministry of Finance and the Quebec Public Curator maintain separate unclaimed property registers for their respective provinces. Linked for manual search.
How to Claim from the Bank of Canada
Visit unclaimedproperties.bankofcanada.ca and search by your name. If you find a match, download and complete the claim form. You'll need to provide: government-issued photo ID, your Social Insurance Number, and documentation linking you to the account (such as an old bank statement). The Bank processes claims within 6–8 weeks and pays by cheque.
Claiming is completely free. The Bank of Canada holds balances under $1,000 for 30 years and larger balances for up to 100 years — giving you a very long window to claim. Balances earn interest at a rate set by the Bank while held.
Provincial Registers
If you've lived in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, or Quebec, also check your provincial register. Each province covers different types of unclaimed property and has its own claim process. Our tool links directly to each provincial database so you can check all of them in one session.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Claim Unclaimed Money in Canada
Canada holds over C$1.6 billion in unclaimed balances at the Bank of Canada alone, plus billions more spread across provincial unclaimed property registries. The process is free and straightforward — here's how to search comprehensively:
The Bank of Canada (unclaimedproperties.bankofcanada.ca) holds bank accounts, term deposits, GICs, and other balances from Canadian financial institutions that have been dormant for 10 years or more. This is the federal database — search it first with your full name and any former addresses. The search is free and instant.
Each Canadian province maintains its own unclaimed property registry for provincially regulated assets. Key searches: British Columbia (bcunclaimed.ca), Alberta (alberta.ca/unclaimed-property), Ontario (Ontario Securities Commission — search the BCSC/OSC), Quebec (revenuquebec.ca/en/unclaimed-property), and Saskatchewan (contact the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee — Saskatchewan does not have a general unclaimed property registry). If you've lived in multiple provinces, search each one.
Service Canada administers the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS). If you or a deceased relative were eligible for these benefits but never applied or stopped receiving them, you may have unclaimed entitlements. Contact Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914 to inquire about retroactive CPP or OAS payments.
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) may owe you a tax refund if you filed returns but never received payment, or if reassessments created a refund balance. Log into My CRA Account at canada.ca to check your account balance. Government of Canada cheques never expire — if you have an uncashed CRA cheque, contact the CRA to have it reissued at any time.
For Bank of Canada claims you'll need: a completed claim form, government-issued photo ID, and proof of your Social Insurance Number (SIN). For estate claims, you'll need a death certificate and either letters probate (English provinces) or letters of verification (Quebec). Most provinces accept electronic submissions with digital identity verification.
The Bank of Canada typically processes straightforward claims within 6–8 weeks. Provincial registry timelines vary — BC Unclaimed typically processes within 30 days of receiving complete documentation, Alberta may take up to 120 days, while Quebec timelines vary by complexity. Once approved, funds are sent by cheque to your address (or by bank wire for international claimants).
Province-by-Province Guide to Canadian Unclaimed Property
Canada's unclaimed property system is divided between federal oversight (Bank of Canada for bank deposits) and provincial regulation for most other financial assets. Here's what each major province covers:
Ontario
Ontario does not have a provincial unclaimed property registry — unclaimed financial assets from Ontario institutions go to the Bank of Canada. However, the Ontario Securities Commission holds unclaimed investment fund distributions and class action settlement funds.
British Columbia
BC has its own Unclaimed Property Society (bcunclaimed.ca) covering dormant accounts from BC credit unions, insurance proceeds, and provincial court deposits. BC's register is fully searchable online and free to use.
Alberta
Alberta administers unclaimed property through the provincial government (alberta.ca). Alberta's register includes dormant credit union accounts, trust company deposits, and ATB Financial dormant accounts not covered by the Bank of Canada.
Quebec
Revenue Quebec (revenuquebec.ca) administers Quebec's unclaimed property system — one of the most comprehensive in Canada. Quebec covers dormant accounts, uncashed insurance cheques, unpaid wages, and unclaimed court deposits.
Atlantic Provinces
Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, and Newfoundland each administer their own unclaimed property registries. Nova Scotia administers unclaimed estate and trust funds, searchable at novascotia.ca/unclaimed-estates-and-trusts. New Brunswick has a broader program searchable at fundsfindernb.ca.
Prairie Provinces
Manitoba has a provincial unclaimed property program covering credit union deposits and provincially regulated financial products. Saskatchewan does not have general unclaimed property legislation — residents should use the Bank of Canada's federal database and contact the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee for estate-related matters.
Understanding Canada's Unclaimed Property System
Canada's approach to unclaimed property is split between federal and provincial jurisdiction — understanding the difference is key to searching comprehensively:
Bank of Canada (federal): Under the Bank Act, Canadian chartered banks must transfer unclaimed deposits to the Bank of Canada after 10 years of inactivity on accounts with balances of C$1,000 or more (previously C$500). The Bank of Canada acts as permanent custodian and is required by law to return funds to the rightful owner or their estate with no time limit and with interest.
Provincial registries: Credit unions, trust companies, insurance companies, and other provincially regulated financial institutions report unclaimed property to their respective provincial government — not the Bank of Canada. The dormancy period varies by province (typically 5–10 years), and the types of property covered vary widely. This is why you must search both federal and provincial databases.
Quebec's unique system: Quebec operates under civil law (rather than common law like other provinces), and its unclaimed property system under Revenu Québec is particularly broad, covering categories not included in other provinces' systems. Claimants should search at revenuquebec.ca/en/unclaimed-property (English) or revenuquebec.ca/fr/biens-non-reclames (French).
Common Mistakes When Searching Canadian Unclaimed Property
Only searching the Bank of Canada. The Bank of Canada only holds deposits from federally chartered banks. Credit union accounts, insurance proceeds, investment fund balances, and court deposits are held provincially and won't appear in the federal search.
Not checking Quebec separately. Quebec's civil law system creates unique categories of unclaimed property. Even if you've never lived in Quebec, you might have Quebec-sourced income (royalties, dividends from Quebec companies) that ended up in Revenue Quebec's unclaimed property registry.
Missing CRA refund cheques. The CRA mails refund cheques to your last known address — if you've moved, cheques may have been returned undelivered. Log into My CRA Account and update your address, then check your account balance for any outstanding refunds.
Not checking for a deceased parent's unclaimed balances. Estate claims for Canadian residents are very common. If a parent or grandparent had a Canadian bank account that became dormant after they moved to a care facility or passed away, there is likely an unclaimed balance. Estate administrators can claim using standard probate documentation.
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