Find lost money in the UK
In the UK, start with My Lost Account for old bank, building society and NS&I accounts, the government's Pension Tracing Service for old pensions, and Gretel, which checks several kinds of account at once. All are free.
The UK has no single unclaimed money register like the US states. Each kind of money has its own free tracing service, listed below.
Start here: My Lost Account (UK bank, building society and NS&I accounts)
mylostaccount.org.uk
Then: Pension Tracing Service (GOV.UK)
Free government service that finds contact details for old pension schemes, and Gretel (gretel.co.uk), a free service that checks pensions, Child Trust Funds, accounts and investments at once.
Try the free services first
The main UK tracing services are free: My Lost Account, the Pension Tracing Service, HMRC's tools and Gretel. Some paid services exist, so try the free ones first. Never pay an upfront fee or give card details to "release" money.
Every UK tracing service, by kind of money
Lost bank and building society accounts
- My Lost Account: Free tracing of lost bank, building society and NS&I accounts. Your search goes to the providers you pick, and you hear back by email or letter.
- Dormant Assets Scheme (Reclaim Fund): Money from accounts that went dormant may have been moved into the Dormant Assets Scheme, but you keep a lifelong right to reclaim it.
Lost pensions
- Pension Tracing Service (GOV.UK): Free government service that finds the contact details of a workplace or personal pension scheme. It doesn't tell you whether you have a pension or what it's worth.
- Gretel: Free service that checks for lost pensions, Child Trust Funds, bank accounts, investments and life insurance with the companies that have joined it, and checks again every two weeks.
Child Trust Funds and investments
- Find a Child Trust Fund (HMRC): Free HMRC tool that tells you where a Child Trust Fund was opened (not how much is in it).
- Unclaimed Assets Register (Experian): A register of unclaimed financial assets run by Experian, which is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Unlike the services above, it charges a small fee to search.
Tax refunds from HMRC
- Check how to claim a tax refund (HMRC): Find out how to claim back tax you overpaid on pay, job expenses, a pension, savings interest, redundancy pay or other income.
Premium Bonds
- Premium Bonds prize checker (NS&I): Check whether old Premium Bonds have won a prize, using the holder's number.
Someone who died
- Unclaimed estates (bona vacantia): When someone dies with no will or known family, their estate passes to the Crown. Relatives may be entitled to a share.
- Gretel (for someone who died): Search for lost accounts and policies of someone who has died, if you have legal authority such as being the executor.
Life insurance
- Gretel: Free check that includes lost life insurance with the companies that have joined it.
Tips
- Search with every address you have lived at, and any old names.
- Dig out old statements, passbooks, pension letters or policy numbers: they help providers find a match.
- Search for family members who have died too, if you are handling their estate.
What you need to claim
For yourself
- Proof of who you are and of the address the account was opened at. Each provider tells you what it needs.
For someone who died
- Their death certificate and proof you can act for the estate, such as a grant of probate or letters of administration.
How claims are handled
Each bank, pension scheme or fund handles its own claim.
Good to know
| Worth knowing | Money in UK bank and building society accounts that go dormant can be moved into the Dormant Assets Scheme, but you keep a lifelong right to reclaim it from the bank. |
|---|
Source: reclaimfund.co.uk, checked 28 September 2026
Quick answers
- How do I find lost money in the UK?
- In the UK, start with My Lost Account for old bank, building society and NS&I accounts, the government's Pension Tracing Service for old pensions, and Gretel, which checks several kinds of account at once. All are free.
- Is there a UK unclaimed money register like in the US?
- The UK has no single unclaimed money register like the US states. Each kind of money has its own free tracing service.
- Are the UK tracing services free?
- The main UK tracing services are free: My Lost Account, the Pension Tracing Service, HMRC's tools and Gretel. Some paid services exist, so try the free ones first. Never pay an upfront fee or give card details to "release" money.
- What happens to money in a dormant UK bank account?
- Money in UK bank and building society accounts that go dormant can be moved into the Dormant Assets Scheme, but you keep a lifelong right to reclaim it from the bank.
Sources
- https://www.mylostaccount.org.uk/
- https://www.gov.uk/find-pension-contact-details
- https://www.reclaimfund.co.uk/
- https://www.gretel.co.uk/
- https://www.gov.uk/child-trust-funds/find-a-child-trust-fund
- https://www.uar.co.uk/
- https://www.gov.uk/tax-overpayments-and-underpayments
- https://www.nsandi.com/prize-checker
- https://www.gov.uk/unclaimed-estates-bona-vacantia
Ask Find My Money yourself
Type UK, or what you are looking for, and get the free official tracing service. Open Find My Money, free, no sign-up.
In Claude or any app that takes MCP connectors, add https://goodturn-mcp.pages.dev/findmymoney/mcp and ask: “How do I find an old pension in the UK?”
Lived in the US too? Search unclaimed property by state.