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An inactive or dormant account is one that hasn't been used in at least 6 months. Inevitably, since they’re not being checked regularly, they pose a significant risk of being involved in a fraudulent transaction.
For your security we pay particular attention to accounts like these. If you should find yourself with a dormant or inactive account, or you lose track of one altogether, here’s some information that will help you put it right.
If you have an account you’re no longer using
We may notify you that one of your accounts is inactive via SMS text message, or by a banner that appears on your internet banking homepage. You’ll then have a number of options:
- To keep your account open
Just make a transaction and continue to use it regularly.
- To change it to an alternative HSBC account
If that’s the case, you can decide which one would suit you best by looking at our range of current accounts or savings accounts.
- To close the account
You can do it online, by phone or in branch.
If we’ve told you we may freeze or close your account
We're committed to protecting you from financial crime and fraud. So we periodically review all accounts, and prevent unauthorised transactions being made on inactive ones by:
- freezing any that have a credit balance and marking them as dormant
- closing inactive accounts that have a zero balance
Please note that we consider each account in isolation when determining whether it's inactive. If you hold other accounts or products with us, none of your accounts will be frozen if one is still in use.
Any money will remain in the account and you'll continue to earn any interest due. We’ll continue to send you a statement for your account at least annually.
Please note that we consider each account in isolation when determining whether it's inactive. If you hold other accounts or products with us, none of your accounts will be frozen if one is still in use.
If we’ve frozen an account that was inactive
Any money will remain in the account and you'll continue to earn any interest due. We’ll continue to send you a statement for your account at least annually.
Please note that we consider each account in isolation when determining whether it's inactive. If you hold other accounts or products with us, none of your accounts will be frozen if one is still in use.
If you’d like to reactivate a frozen account
- Call us on 03456 006 161 - we may need to ask you some security questions to confirm your identity if you do not regularly use telephone banking
OR
- Make an appointment to visit us in branch. Bring your account details (as shown in your cheque book, statement or other correspondence from us) and some identification.
Before reactivating, we'll need to check your account details are up to date, including your ID and address. Once your account is up and running again, just make a transaction and continue using it regularly to keep it active.
If you’ve lost track of an account you had with us
We're committed to reuniting customers with their lost or forgotten money. If you think you had an account with us you can no longer access, contact us with the relevant details and we'll try and locate it.
If you have an HSBC Premier or HSBC Advance account
If your account is frozen, you will continue to have access to the associated benefits and privileges that come with that account. However, if your account is closed all these will cease.
