Checking Accounts Unclaimed Property September 2026 Update: What Changed, Why It Matters, and What to Watch Next

See which 2026 state changes affect inactive checking accounts and the actions that can preserve documented owner interest.

There is no nationwide September 2026 change to how checking accounts become unclaimed property. The important updates are state-specific changes in Connecticut and Florida, while a federal proposal to watch does not cover ordinary checking accounts. Unclaimed property is money transferred to state custody after the owner stops interacting with the account for the applicable dormancy period. The owner does not permanently forfeit the money and may file a claim with the state.

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When does a checking account become unclaimed?

A bank cannot treat a checking account as abandoned merely because the customer leaves money untouched for a short time. The account must meet the relevant state's dormancy period without qualifying owner activity or contact. Those periods still vary.

The National Association of unclaimed Property Administrators lists three years for California, Connecticut, and New York, compared with five years for Florida on its checking-account dormancy page. The applicable state can depend on the information associated with the account. For that reason, people who have moved or conducted business in several states should search each relevant state's unclaimed-property program.

What changed in Connecticut?

Connecticut Public Act 26-94 took effect July 1, 2026. It expressly recognizes account access, owner-directed transactions, documented oral contact, and deposits or withdrawals as evidence that an owner remains interested, according to the Connecticut General Assembly's enacted legislation. The clarification gives customers several ways to interrupt the abandonment period.

Logging in, communicating with the bank, or initiating a transaction may establish continued interest when properly recorded. Preauthorized automatic activity is excluded, however. A recurring transfer or automatic payment alone may not prove that the owner is actively monitoring the account. Customers should make direct contact or complete an owner-directed action instead of relying only on automation.

What changed in Florida?

Florida Chapter 2026-174 became effective June 26, 2026. Florida continues to presume demand deposits, savings accounts, and matured time deposits abandoned after five years unless specified activity or communication shows owner interest. Florida also added another notice step for higher-value property.

For property worth more than $1,000, a holder with a usable mailing address must send a second certified-mail notice at least 60 days before reporting it; a signed receipt demonstrates continued interest under the 2026 version of Chapter 717. A Florida customer who receives certified mail from a bank should respond promptly and retain proof. Ignoring the notice could allow the account to proceed toward state reporting once the remaining legal conditions are met.

What should checking-account customers do now?

The safest response is documented, owner-directed activity. Customers should not assume that interest credits, automatic deposits, or scheduled withdrawals will keep an account from becoming unclaimed.

Practical steps include: If an account has already reached the state, contact the state program rather than the former bank to begin a claim. State custody preserves the owner's ability to seek the money.

  • Sign in to the account and review its status.
  • Make a customer-directed deposit, withdrawal, or other transaction.
  • Contact the bank and keep a record of the communication.
  • Update the mailing address, email address, and other contact details.
  • Respond to bank notices, especially certified mail.

What federal development should readers watch?

H.R. 8338, called the SAFER Act, is the principal federal development identified for monitoring. As of its last recorded action on April 16, 2026, it had only been introduced and referred to the House Financial Services Committee, according to the U.S.

Government Publishing Office bill record. The proposal does not establish a new dormancy rule for checking accounts. It targets securities, digital assets, and investment accounts, so ordinary bank customers should continue watching state rules and notices rather than treating the bill as an enacted banking change.

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