银行将清理“沉睡账户”，银行卡里的钱会被没收吗？一文解惑

Core Viewpoint - Banks are initiating a cleanup of "sleeping accounts," which are defined as long-term inactive accounts, raising concerns among account holders about the status of their funds and the implications of this action [2][19]. Summary by Sections Definition of "Sleeping Accounts" - "Sleeping accounts" refer to personal or corporate accounts that have been inactive for an extended period, typically characterized by "long-term no active transactions" and "low balance" [5][6]. - Most banks define these accounts as having a balance below 10 RMB and being inactive for over a year, although some may only clear accounts with zero balance [5][8]. Differentiation Among Banks - Different banks have varying criteria for identifying "sleeping accounts." For instance, one bank may require a balance below 10 RMB and three years of inactivity, while another may set the threshold at 50 RMB and two years [8][10][14]. - Corporate accounts also have stricter criteria, with a six-month inactivity leading to restrictions and a year resulting in classification as a long-term inactive account [14]. Process of Account Cleanup - During the cleanup, banks will notify account holders via SMS or mobile banking alerts. To retain their accounts, customers must conduct at least one active transaction before the cleanup process begins [18]. - If an account is closed due to inactivity, the funds remain the property of the account holder and can be reclaimed from the bank [18][19]. Rationale Behind the Cleanup - The cleanup initiative is part of a broader effort by the National Financial Regulatory Administration to manage "sleeping accounts," with many banks participating in this action over the past two years [19]. - The cleanup serves three main purposes: to awaken idle funds for better utilization, to reduce unnecessary resource occupation by inactive accounts, and to mitigate potential risks associated with long-term inactive accounts, such as fraud [21]. Recommendations for Account Holders - Experts suggest that account holders should regularly check their accounts, close unnecessary ones, and ensure that active accounts have minimal transactions to avoid being classified as "sleeping accounts" [23].