Dormant accounts

If you don’t make any transactions on your account within a certain period (one year for banking accounts and three years for savings accounts), then we may treat it as being dormant to remove the risk of fraudulent activity. We’ll try and contact you before this happens.

When your account is dormant you won’t be able to make transactions, and we won’t contact you. This includes changes to your terms and conditions and interest rate, statements or new cards. We can assure you that the money in your account remains yours, and you can reclaim it at any time. You'll continue to earn interest (if applicable at the rate offered on the account). 

It’s important to keep us up to date with your contact details (including your address, phone number and email address) so that we can stay in touch with you. If you want to use the dormant account, you'll need to re-activate it. We’ll need to update your details on your dormant account before we can close or re-activate it.

If you want to reactivate your account so you can use it, we’ll need to update your details. To do this, click on your entity type below and fill in the form. 

When filling in your form, you'll also need to provide photocopies of your ID from lists 1 and 2 from our application checklist (60 KB). If you're a limited company, make sure your records are up to date with Companies House. You'll need to complete a new form if any incorrect information is supplied.

Once completed, the form and supporting documentation can be returned to us at: Santander Business Banking Operations, Sunderland, SR43 4FW. You can also fax it to us on 0844 800 9988.

To close your business account, you’ll need to complete and return the account closure form (326 KB) to Santander Business Banking Operations, Sunderland, SR43 4FW. Or you can also fax it to us on 0844 800 9988. You'll also need to provide photocopies of ID from lists 1 and 2 from our application checklist (60 KB). You'll need to complete a new form if any incorrect information is supplied.

You can call us on 0330 123 9860 so we can help with your account closure request.

When your account will close:
We'll close your account within 5 days of receiving your account closure form and ID. We'll send you a letter to confirm that it's closed. If we haven’t got the right information, it may take longer. If you have a balance on the account, we’ll transfer it to your chosen account or send a cheque in the business name.

We take part in the Dormant Assets Scheme. This voluntary scheme:

  • allows money held in dormant accounts for 15 years or more to be used to help communities across the UK, and
  • makes sure the account holder (or beneficiaries) can get the funds in their dormant account(s) at any time.

Under the Dormant Assets Scheme, we may move the funds from your dormant account(s) to Reclaim Fund Ltd (RFL). If we transfer the balance of your account to RFL, we’ll:

  • only send the funds of your dormant account to RFL, and not your personal data, and
  • continue to be your point of contact

Your money is safe. RFL is owned by His Majesty’s Treasury. Visit the Reclaim Fund page to learn more

Reclaiming your funds
If you’ve received a letter from us about your money being transferred to the Dormant Assets Scheme and would like to close your account and reclaim your funds, we’ll need to update your details. 

To do this, click on your entity type below and fill in the form. 

When filling in your form, you'll also need to provide photocopies of your ID from lists 1 and 2 from our application checklist (60 KB). If you're a limited company, make sure your records are up to date with Companies House. You'll need to complete a new form if any incorrect information is supplied. You can also fax it to us on 0844 800 9988.

Once completed, the form and supporting documentation can be returned to us at: Santander Business Banking Operations, Sunderland, SR43 4FW. You can also fax it to us on 0844 800 9988.

Need help with dormancy? Please call our account servicing team on 0330 123 9860. 

Head over to our help and support page if you need anything else.

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