The Merz government is drafting legislation to create a central register for dormant bank accounts across Germany.
This move addresses a systemic gap in the financial sector that prevents heirs from reclaiming assets. Without a unified database, families often have no way of knowing if a deceased relative held funds in a specific institution.
Estimates suggest that up to €9 billion [1] currently sits in these forgotten accounts. Because Germany lacks a central tracking system, the money remains stagnant in private banks while the rightful owners, or their legal heirs, remain unaware of the holdings.
Under the current system, heirs must typically identify the specific bank where an account was held to initiate a claim. This process is often impossible if the deceased did not leave a detailed list of assets or if the account was opened decades ago.
The proposed legislation aims to streamline this process by consolidating information into a single register. This would allow a centralized search for dormant assets, reducing the burden on individuals to guess which financial institutions hold their family's money.
Reports from 2024 [2] highlight that the scale of these unclaimed funds has become a significant legislative priority. The government said the register will act as a bridge between the banking sector and the public to ensure the lawful return of private property.
“Up to €9 billion may be sitting in dormant bank accounts in Germany.”
The creation of a central register represents a shift toward greater transparency in the German banking system. By reducing the information asymmetry between private banks and citizens, the government is attempting to resolve a long-standing issue of 'lost' wealth that has historically favored financial institutions over private heirs.
