银行清理“沉睡账户”,你的钱不会丢

Core Viewpoint - Recent announcements from multiple banks indicate a move to manage or clean up "long-term inactive accounts," raising concerns among customers about the fate of their funds in these accounts [2][5]. Group 1: Definition and Standards of Inactive Accounts - "Sleeping accounts" are defined as personal bank accounts that have not had any transactions for a specified period, with varying standards across banks [4]. - The criteria for identifying long-term inactive accounts include having a balance of 10 yuan (inclusive) or less, no active loan repayments, and no transactions for 365 days or more [3][4]. - Different banks have different thresholds for inactivity, ranging from 1 year to 3 years, and balance limits from 10 yuan to 100 yuan [4]. Group 2: Customer Concerns and Bank Responses - Customers express concerns about the potential loss of funds in sleeping accounts and the lack of clarity on how these accounts will be managed [2][5]. - Banks have stated that they will notify account holders through SMS and mobile banking alerts before any actions are taken on inactive accounts [5]. - Even if an account is closed, customers can reclaim any remaining balance, as the funds remain the property of the account holder [5][6]. Group 3: Regulatory Background and Industry Context - The cleanup of sleeping accounts is part of a broader initiative by the People's Bank of China, which began in 2020, to reduce the number of inactive accounts and improve banking efficiency [7][8]. - As of 2024, the average person holds approximately 7 bank cards, with a significant portion of these being inactive accounts [8]. - Inactive accounts pose operational challenges for banks, as they occupy resources without contributing significantly to revenue, with some banks reporting that low-activity accounts account for 20%-30% of their total accounts [8][9].