Unclaimed Money in Italy
Italy's unclaimed money system is managed by Consap (Concessionaria Servizi Assicurativi Pubblici) on behalf of the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF). Under Italian banking law, any current account or deposit with a balance exceeding €100 that has had no customer-initiated transactions for 10 years is automatically closed by the bank and the funds transferred to Consap. The Consap register is fully searchable online at no cost.
Importantly, there is a deadline: once funds have been held by Consap for 10 years, they are allocated to the Fondo di Garanzia per le Vittime delle Frodi Finanziarie (Financial Fraud Victims Guarantee Fund) and can no longer be claimed. If you suspect you or a relative have a dormant Italian account, search as soon as possible.
How the Italian System Works
Dormant Bank Accounts
Accounts (conti correnti) and deposits with balances over €100 that have had no transactions for 10 years. The bank must notify the account holder before transferring — but often can't make contact if the address has changed.
Search by Name
The Consap portal at consultaconti.consap.it lets you search by cognome (surname), nome (first name), city (luogo), province, and year. No registration needed to search — results are instant.
Online Claims
Once you find a match, claims are submitted directly through consap.it with government-issued ID and account documentation. The process is entirely online — no need to visit in person.
10-Year Claim Window
You have 10 years from the transfer date to claim from Consap. After that, the funds go permanently to the Financial Fraud Victims Fund. Accounts transferred in 2015–2016 are now reaching this deadline — claim immediately if your account was transferred in those years.
How to Search Consap
Go to consultaconti.consap.it and enter your cognome (surname) and nome (first name). You can narrow results by luogo (city), provincia (province), and anno conto (year the account was transferred). The search covers all Italian banks that have transferred dormant accounts to the MEF.
If you find a match: note the account details shown, then go to consap.it to start the formal claim process. You'll need a valid carta d'identità or passaporto, your codice fiscale (tax code), and any documentation you have linking you to the original account — such as old bank statements, a passbook, or correspondence with the bank.
Claiming for a Deceased Relative
Heirs can claim dormant accounts from a deceased relative's estate. You'll need: the deceased's full name, date and place of birth, their codice fiscale, a death certificate (atto di morte), and documentation of your inheritance rights — either a notarised succession declaration (dichiarazione di successione) or a court order. Italian notaries (notai) can assist with preparing the documentation.
Other Unclaimed Assets in Italy
Life Insurance and Provident Policies (IVASS)
Life insurance is one of the most commonly forgotten financial assets in Italy. The Insurance Supervisory Authority (IVASS — Istituto per la Vigilanza sulle Assicurazioni) oversees unclaimed life insurance policies. Under Italian law, insurers must attempt to contact beneficiaries when a policy matures or when a death benefit becomes payable. If no contact is made, unclaimed policy proceeds are handled separately from the Consap bank account register. To search for unclaimed insurance policies, contact your insurer directly or use the IVASS consumer service (Servizio Tutela del Consumatore) at ivass.it. ANIA (the Italian insurance industry association) also maintains guidance for tracing old policies from insurers that have merged or ceased trading.
Pension and Social Security Contributions (INPS)
Contributions made to Italy's national social security system (INPS — Istituto Nazionale della Previdenza Sociale) are individually tracked and do not expire. However, workers who contributed to multiple employer pension schemes, occupational funds (fondi pensione), or TFR (trattamento di fine rapporto — severance pay) arrangements may have unclaimed entitlements. TFR accrued before 2007 that was not directed to a pension fund remains with the original employer; TFR directed to the state-managed fund (INPS Fondo di Tesoreria) can be claimed via inps.it using your SPID (Italian digital identity). Occupational pension fund balances can be located through COVIP, the Italian Pension Fund Supervisory Commission at covip.it.
Claiming from Abroad — Italian Expats and Non-Residents
Non-residents and Italian citizens living abroad can search and claim from Consap entirely online. You will need your codice fiscale (Italian tax code), which can be obtained from any Italian consulate abroad if you no longer have it. The Italian embassy or consulate in your country of residence can assist with certifying documents for estate claims and with apostille certification of foreign documents needed for the claim process. Claims submitted from abroad follow the same process as domestic claims but may require certified translations of non-Italian documents.
Dormant Postal Accounts (BancoPosta)
Poste Italiane operates BancoPosta current accounts and Libretto di Risparmio (savings booklets) — one of the most widely held financial products in Italy, particularly among older generations. BancoPosta accounts are subject to the same 10-year dormancy rules as bank accounts and are transferred to Consap if inactive. However, the original Libretto di Risparmio booklets (especially older bearer booklets issued before 2012) may require additional documentation to claim. Search for any BancoPosta accounts via the Consap portal first; if you hold an original libretto booklet, take it to any Poste Italiane branch with valid government ID.
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