Banks urged to help customers reclaim Rs 140 crore lying in inactive accounts in Dakshina Kannada

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, December 25, 2025: Nearly ₹140 crore is lying unclaimed in bank accounts in Dakshina Kannada district that have remained inactive for over 10 years, and banks must create awareness to help rightful customers reclaim their money, said Member of Parliament Capt. Brijesh Chowta.

He was speaking while presiding over the District Level Review Committee (DLRC) meeting of banks held at the Netravati Hall of the Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat on Wednesday.

The MP said that across the country, deposits worth around ₹78,000 crore are lying in bank accounts that have been inactive for more than a decade. In Karnataka alone, such deposits amount to about ₹3,400 crore, of which ₹140 crore pertains to Dakshina Kannada district. Apart from bank deposits, unclaimed insurance amounts and shares are also pending, and banks should take appropriate steps to ensure these are returned to customers, he added.

₹20 crore already repaid

RBI Assistant General Manager Arun Kumar P. said that ₹20 crore from previously inactive accounts in Dakshina Kannada has already been repaid to customers. He informed that customers can trace their inactive accounts through the RBI’s UDGAM portal (udgam.rbi.org.in) using details such as their name, PAN or date of birth.

Concerns over PM Vishwakarma scheme

The MP expressed displeasure over some banks failing to sanction loans to beneficiaries selected under the PM Vishwakarma scheme. He also reviewed the progress of Kisan Credit Card distribution and instructed banks to show greater interest in implementing government welfare schemes.

₹414.26 crore disbursed under Mudra

Lead Bank Manager Kavitha Shetty said that loans worth ₹414.26 crore were disbursed to 24,115 accounts under the Mudra scheme between April and September 2025. Under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, 20,769 savings accounts were opened during the period.

She added that 25,564 people were enrolled under the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, 52,239 under the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, and 16,668 under the Atal Pension Yojana.

Banking business crosses ₹1.35 lakh crore

Under the PM SVANidhi scheme, financial assistance was sanctioned to 19,434 beneficiaries in the district. As of the end of September, the total banking business in Dakshina Kannada stood at ₹1,35,696.22 crore. Loans amounting to ₹26,096.15 crore were disbursed across priority and non-priority sectors, achieving 80.90 per cent of the quarterly target.

Canara Bank DGM Shailendranath and NABARD DDM Sangeetha S. Karth were among those present at the meeting.