Inactive accounts information and FAQ
What is the Eckert Law?
The Eckert Law, adopted on June 13, 2014, and in effect since January 1, 2016, governs the management of inactive bank accounts and unclaimed life insurance policies. It aims to protect and inform account holders and their beneficiaries, and organizes the procedure for transferring unclaimed assets to the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC), and subsequently to the State.
How is account inactivity defined?
A bank account (current account, savings account) is considered inactive if two conditions are met cumulatively: There have been no transactions on the account (excluding interest posting, bank fees, etc.) for a period of 12 consecutive months. The account holder (or their legal representative, or an authorized person) has not come forward in any way to the bank, and has not carried out any transaction on another account held in their name at the same banking institution during these same 12 months. If the account holder is deceased, the account is considered inactive if, during a 12-month period following the death, no beneficiary has informed the bank of their intention to assert their rights to the account's assets.
What are the consequences of account inactivity?
Retention by the bank: Once an account is identified as inactive, the bank retains it. Transfer to the Caisse des Dépôts (CDC): For a living account holder: If inactivity persists for 10 years, the bank closes the account and transfers the assets to the Caisse des Dépôts (CDC). For a deceased account holder: If inactivity persists for 3 years after the death without any manifestation from beneficiaries, the bank closes the account and transfers the assets to the CDC. Acquisition by the State: Sums deposited with the CDC and not reclaimed are definitively acquired by the State after a total period of 30 years of account inactivity (i.e., 20 years after their deposit with the CDC if the holder was alive, or 27 years after their deposit with the CDC if the holder was deceased and the transfer occurred 3 years after death).
How to recover funds transferred to the Caisse des Dépôts (CDC)?
If your funds have been transferred to the Caisse des Dépôts, you (or your beneficiaries) can request their return via the ciclade.fr website, which is the dedicated search service. The general process is as follows: Conduct a search on the ciclade.fr website by providing the requested information about the account holder. If the search results in a match, create a personal account on the site. Submit your claim for restitution by providing the required information and supporting documents. The Caisse des Dépôts will review your claim. If your claim is validated, the funds will be returned to you.
What are the bank's information obligations?
The bank has several information obligations towards the account holder or their beneficiaries: Initial information: The bank must inform the account holder (or their legal representative or authorized person) when their account becomes inactive. Annual information: This information about the account's inactivity is then renewed annually, as long as the account remains inactive and held by the bank. Information before transfer to the CDC: A final notification is sent by the bank 6 months before the actual transfer of assets to the Caisse des Dépôts. This transfer generally occurs after 10 years of inactivity (or 3 years in the event of the account holder's death, and 20 years for Home Savings Plans (PEL) considered 'orphaned' meaning without a known or manifested holder after a certain period).
Inactive accounts held in our books as of 31/12/2025 Inactive accounts transferred to the CDC as of 31/12/2025 Total amount € 159 482,60 € 0 Number 2 264 0
