As we previously discussed, the bank is constantly monitoring your account. So if the bank notices that your account has been inactive for an extended period of time, then they may register your account as being dormant. Branding an account as dormant is not the same as closing one - for the dormant account will still exist but you will be unable to access it.  When a long period of inactivity has passed, the bank will eventually collect your money and send it to the government as unclaimed funds. This will traditionally happen when your account has been inactive for 3-5 years. If you discover that your funds have been sent to the government, then you can contact the treasury department to make a claim.  The amount of time you can keep your inactive account will vary depending on laws and the bank’s own policies. Most banks will register your account as dormant after 6-12 months of inactivity.