200,000 French people obtained from the Caisse des Dépôts the restitution of sums of money forgotten in inactive accounts in 2025

The Caisse des Dépôts (CDC) has returned to their beneficiaries 164.4 million euros in 2025 which were lying dormant in bank accounts or inactive life insurance policies, the public institution told AFP on Monday.

Lost bank account, forgotten childhood savings account or life insurance of a deceased loved one whose beneficiary is unknown: since 2017, it has been possible to search for the existence of these inactive accounts on the Ciclade online service, managed by the Caisse des Dépôts.

If such sums exist, individuals, beneficiaries or notaries can request their restitution, free of charge. 200,000 requests of this type were made in 2025, reports the Caisse des Dépôts, a public financial body also responsible for managing the majority of funds deposited in savings accounts. On average, 943 euros were returned per request.

When an account is inactive, banks must regularly write to the account holder to invite them to come forward. After a certain period of inactivity (generally 10 years), the account is transferred to the Caisse des Dépôts. 758,000 accounts and contracts were transferred to the CDC in 2025, for a total of 671 million euros.

If 20 years later, these sums are still not claimed, they are then paid to the State and overseas communities, which received 89 million euros in 2025 as a result.