Unclaimed Money in Canada (2026)
Billions of dollars in unclaimed bank balances, CRA cheques, and life insurance sit waiting to be claimed by their owners. All the official searches are free. This guide covers every legitimate source and how to claim safely.
Scam warning: read before you search
- !The Bank of Canada does not email, call, or text you about unclaimed money. It communicates only by mail or secure tool in response to a claim you started.
- !Account holders are not automatically notified when their funds are transferred to the BoC UPO.
- !Any unsolicited message claiming you have unclaimed money is phishing.
- !Searching for unclaimed money is always free, never pay a finder fee or a release fee.
- !Always type the official URL yourself; never click a link in an unsolicited message.
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1. Bank of Canada: Unclaimed balances (the main federal source)
Open this section ↓Federally regulated banks and trust companies are required to transfer Canadian-dollar accounts that have been inactive for 10 years (and whose owner is unreachable) to the Bank of Canada Unclaimed Properties Office (UPO). Banks must notify the account holder by mail at 2, 5, and 9 years of inactivity first.
Phone
1-833-876-2267
↑ Close this sectionHow long balances are heldBalances under $1,000 stay claimable until 40 years after the last account activity (about 30 years at the Bank), then go to the Receiver General. Balances of $1,000 or more are held for 100 years, then transferred to the Receiver General.How to claimSubmit a claim online via the UPO portal. Follow the UPO's instructions for submitting documents. Do not mail originals unless specifically asked.Secure submissionShare sensitive personal information only by mail or the UPO's secure upload tool, never by email.Processing timeshown in the UPO portal when you submit (as of 2026-07)2
2. CRA uncashed cheques
Open this section ↓Check for uncashed Government of Canada cheques via CRA My Account → "Uncashed cheques." Shows cheques uncashed for 6 or more months, going back to 1998.
How to claimRequest a replacement using the form shown, via "Submit documents" in My Account, or by calling CRA.ExpiryGovernment of Canada cheques never expire and never stale-date. They are cashable at any time, free of charge.Sources: CRA: Uncashed cheques · FCAC: Cashing a government cheque
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3. Provincial programs
Only four provinces operate their own unclaimed-property programs.Open this section ↓Only four provinces operate their own unclaimed-property programs. Residents of all other provinces and territories should use the federal sources (Bank of Canada UPO, CRA uncashed cheques) and OLHI.
Alberta
Verified 2026-07Tax and Revenue Administration
Claim within 10 years; free. Search routes through MissingMoney.com.
Search Alberta →British Columbia
Verified 2026-07BC Unclaimed Property Society
Free search; payout approximately 14 business days after a finalized claim.
Search British Columbia →Quebec
Verified 2026-07Revenu Québec (biens non réclamés)
Free; claim via My Account. Under $500: claim within 10 years; $500+: no deadline. Revenu Québec warns against fee-charging finders.
Search Quebec →New Brunswick
Verified 2026-07Financial and Consumer Services Commission (FCNB)
Free to search and claim. Unclaimed after 3 years (10 years for credit-union accounts).
Search New Brunswick →↑ Close this sectionON, MB, SK, NS, PEI, NL, and the three territories do not have a dedicated provincial unclaimed-property program. Use the federal Bank of Canada UPO and CRA uncashed cheques instead. Program availability can change; verify current status.
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4. Other sources
Open this section ↓↑ Close this sectionLost life insurance: OLHI
Free lost-life-insurance search covering OLHI's participating insurers. Also useful for finding a deceased loved one's policy.
OLHI: Lost policy search →Unclaimed GICs and term instruments
Unclaimed GICs and other instruments at federally regulated institutions can also end up with the Bank of Canada UPO after a long period of inactivity.
Pensions (navigational)
•CPP/OAS: contact Service Canada.
•Workplace pension: contact your former employer or the plan administrator.
•Federally regulated pension plans: contact OSFI.
There is no single Canadian pension registry. You must contact the relevant plan directly.
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Claim safely
Open this section ↓What you typically need
- •Government-issued photo ID
- •Proof of the name and address on the original account
- •Date of birth
- •SIN (where required)
- •Legal or estate documents if claiming on behalf of a deceased person
Every legitimate search (BoC UPO, CRA, Alberta, BC, Revenu Québec, FCNB, OLHI) is free.
↑ Close this sectionScam red flags
- !Unsolicited contact (email, phone, text) claiming you have unclaimed money
- !Requests for an upfront fee or a percentage "release" fee
- !Urgency or pressure tactics
- !Requests to provide your SIN or banking details by email or phone
- !Look-alike websites that mimic official government sites
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Settling an estate?
When administering an estate, search the Bank of Canada UPO and OLHI as part of your standard process.Open this section ↓↑ Close this sectionWhen administering an estate, search the Bank of Canada UPO and OLHI as part of your standard process. Balances and lost policies are common finds. These should be done before distributing the estate.
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Free search checklist
Download a printable PDF with every search source, the scam red-flag list, what to bring when claiming, and provincial program notes.Open this section ↓Download a printable PDF with every search source, the scam red-flag list, what to bring when claiming, and provincial program notes.
↑ Close this sectionFree. General information only, not legal or regulatory advice.
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Frequently asked questions
Open this section ↓How do I search for unclaimed money in Canada?
Search the Bank of Canada UPO (unclaimedproperties.bankofcanada.ca), free, name-only. Check CRA My Account → "Uncashed cheques." If you are in AB, BC, QC, or NB, also search your province's program. Check OLHI for lost life insurance. All these searches are free.
How long does a Bank of Canada claim take?
Processing time is shown in the UPO portal when you submit. Submit your claim online through the UPO portal and follow their instructions for documents. Contact: 1-833-876-2267. As of 2026-07.
Which provinces have their own unclaimed money programs?
Only four: Alberta, BC, Quebec, and New Brunswick. Residents of all other provinces and territories (ON, MB, SK, NS, PEI, NL, and the three territories) should use the federal Bank of Canada UPO and CRA uncashed cheques. Program availability can change. Verify current status.
Do government cheques ever expire?
No. Government of Canada cheques never expire and never stale-date. They are cashable at any time, free of charge. Check CRA My Account → "Uncashed cheques" to see any going back to 1998.
Is it a scam if someone contacts me about unclaimed money?
Almost certainly yes. The Bank of Canada never emails, calls, or texts you about unclaimed money. Any unsolicited message is phishing. Searching is always free; never pay a finder fee. Always type the official URL yourself.
Official sources
- Bank of Canada: Unclaimed Properties search
- Bank of Canada: Funds management (UPO)
- CRA: Uncashed cheques
- FCAC: Cashing a government cheque
- Bank of Canada: Scam warnings
- OLHI: Lost policy search
- Alberta: Tax and Revenue Administration
- British Columbia: BC Unclaimed Property Society
- Quebec: Revenu Québec (biens non réclamés)
- New Brunswick: Financial and Consumer Services Commission (FCNB)
Facts checked October 2026 · Processing times and program availability can change. Verify at official sources before submitting a claim.
↑ Close this sectionGuidepost is not a law firm. This is general information, not legal advice. Full disclaimer.