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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>77387</law_id><section_number>55.1-2503</section_number><catch_line>Bank deposits and funds in financial organizations</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>55.1-2502</reference><reference>55.1-2522</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="55.1">Property and Conveyances</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="V">Miscellaneous</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="25">Virginia Disposition Of Unclaimed Property Act</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Definitions; Property Abandoned or Assumed Abandoned</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Any demand, savings, or matured time deposit with a banking or <span class="dictionary">financial organization</span>, including deposits that are automatically renewable, and any funds paid toward the purchase of shares, a mutual investment certificate, or any other interest in a banking or <span class="dictionary">financial organization</span> is presumed abandoned unless the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> has, within five years: <a id="paragraph-277591" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-2503/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> In the case of a deposit or ownership of shares, increased or decreased the amount of the deposit or the number of shares owned, or presented the passbook or other similar <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of the deposit or ownership of shares for the crediting of interest or dividends, or negotiated a check in payment of interest or dividends on a time deposit or ownership of shares; <a id="paragraph-277592" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-2503/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Communicated in writing with the banking or <span class="dictionary">financial organization</span> concerning the <span class="dictionary">property</span>; <a id="paragraph-277593" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-2503/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Otherwise indicated an interest in the <span class="dictionary">property</span> as evidenced by a <span class="dictionary">memorandum</span> or other record on file prepared by an employee of the banking or <span class="dictionary">financial organization</span>; <a id="paragraph-277594" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-2503/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Owned other <span class="dictionary">property</span> to which subdivision 1, 2, or 3 is applicable if the banking or <span class="dictionary">financial organization</span> communicated in writing with the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> with regard to the <span class="dictionary">property</span> that would otherwise be presumed abandoned under this section at the address to which communications regarding the other <span class="dictionary">property</span> regularly are sent; <a id="paragraph-277595" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-2503/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Had another relationship with the banking or <span class="dictionary">financial organization</span> concerning which the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> has (i) communicated in writing with the banking or <span class="dictionary">financial organization</span>, or (ii) otherwise indicated an interest as evidenced by a <span class="dictionary">memorandum</span> or other record on file prepared by an employee of the banking or <span class="dictionary">financial organization</span> if the banking or <span class="dictionary">financial organization</span> communicates in writing with the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> with regard to the <span class="dictionary">property</span> that would otherwise be abandoned under this section at the address to which communications regarding the other relationship regularly are sent; or <a id="paragraph-277596" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-2503/#A5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> A deposit made with or purchase of shares in a banking or <span class="dictionary">financial organization</span> by a <span class="dictionary">court</span> or by a guardian pursuant to an <span class="dictionary">order</span> of a <span class="dictionary">court</span> or by any other <span class="dictionary">person</span> for the benefit of a <span class="dictionary">person</span> who was an infant at the time of the making of such deposit or purchase of shares, which deposit or ownership of shares is subject to withdrawal or transfer only upon the further <span class="dictionary">order</span> of such <span class="dictionary">court</span> or such guardian or other <span class="dictionary">person</span>, shall not be subject to the provisions of this chapter until one year after such infant attains the age of 18 years or until one year after the death of such infant, whichever occurs sooner. These accounts are not subject to dormant service charges. <a id="paragraph-277597" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-2503/#A6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, share accounts of a member of a state or federally chartered credit union that is subject to or covered by life savings insurance provided by the credit union at no additional charge to the member shall be presumed abandoned five years after the date of the second mailing of a statement of account or other notification or communication that was returned as undeliverable or five years after the date the credit union discontinued the mailings to the member, whichever occurs earlier. Funds held or owing under the life savings insurance policy are presumed abandoned pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Funds owing under life insurance policies" href="/55.1-2507/">55.1-2507</a>. <a id="paragraph-277598" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-2503/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> For purposes of this section, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">property</span>&#x201D; includes any interest or dividends thereon. No banking or <span class="dictionary">financial organization</span> may deduct any service charge or cease to accrue interest on any account from the date the account is declared dormant or inactive by such organization except in conformity with cessation of interest or service charges generally assessed upon active accounts and except as provided in this section. With respect to any <span class="dictionary">property</span> described in this section, a <span class="dictionary">holder</span> may not impose any charges due to dormancy or inactivity that differ from charges imposed on active accounts or cease to pay interest due to dormancy or inactivity that differs from the cessation of payment of interest on active accounts unless: <a id="paragraph-277599" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-2503/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> There is an enforceable <span class="dictionary">contract</span> between the <span class="dictionary">holder</span> and the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> of the <span class="dictionary">property</span> pursuant to which the <span class="dictionary">holder</span> may impose those charges or cease payment of interest; <a id="paragraph-277600" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-2503/#C1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> For <span class="dictionary">property</span> in excess of $100, the <span class="dictionary">holder</span>, no more than three months prior to the initial imposition of those charges or cessation of interest, has given written notice to the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> of the amount of those charges at the <span class="dictionary">last known address</span> of the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> stating that those charges will be imposed or that interest will cease; however, such notice need not be given with respect to charges imposed or interest ceased before July 1, 1984; <a id="paragraph-277601" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-2503/#C2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> When the <span class="dictionary">holder</span> receives a request from the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> of the <span class="dictionary">property</span> to <span class="dictionary">reverse</span> or cancel dormancy charges or retroactively credit interest with respect to such <span class="dictionary">property</span>, the <span class="dictionary">holder</span> may at its option either:
				a. <span class="dictionary">Reverse</span> or cancel dormancy charges or retroactively credit interest with respect to any such <span class="dictionary">property</span>, in which event the <span class="dictionary">holder</span> shall <span class="dictionary">reverse</span> or cancel dormancy charges or retroactively credit interest for all such <span class="dictionary">property</span> that becomes subject to the reporting requirements in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Report and remittance to be made by holder of funds or property presumed abandoned; holder to exercise due diligence to locate owner" href="/55.1-2524/">55.1-2524</a> for the Department of the Treasury; or
				b. Not <span class="dictionary">reverse</span> or cancel dormancy charges or retroactively credit interest with respect to any such <span class="dictionary">property</span>, in which event the <span class="dictionary">holder</span> shall not be required to <span class="dictionary">reverse</span> or cancel dormancy charges or retroactively credit interest for any such <span class="dictionary">property</span> that becomes subject to the reporting requirements in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Report and remittance to be made by holder of funds or property presumed abandoned; holder to exercise due diligence to locate owner" href="/55.1-2524/">55.1-2524</a> for the Department of the Treasury; and <a id="paragraph-277602" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-2503/#C3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> The <span class="dictionary">holder</span> may at its option <span class="dictionary">reverse</span> or cancel dormancy charges or retroactively credit interest with respect to any or all such <span class="dictionary">property</span> to correct a documented internal error without becoming required to <span class="dictionary">reverse</span> or cancel dormancy charges or retroactively credit interest for all such <span class="dictionary">property</span> that becomes subject to the reporting requirements in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Report and remittance to be made by holder of funds or property presumed abandoned; holder to exercise due diligence to locate owner" href="/55.1-2524/">55.1-2524</a> for the Department of the Treasury.
				Notwithstanding any provision of this subsection to the contrary, a <span class="dictionary">holder</span> that is a state-chartered credit union may refund charges or <span class="dictionary">reverse</span> or cancel those charges or retroactively credit interest with respect to such <span class="dictionary">property</span> to the same extent that a federally chartered credit union is authorized to do so pursuant to applicable provisions of federal <span class="dictionary">law</span>. <a id="paragraph-277603" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-2503/#C4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Any automatically renewable <span class="dictionary">property</span> to which this section applies is matured upon the expiration of its initial time period. However, in the case of any renewal to which the owner consents at or about the time of renewal by communicating in writing with the banking or <span class="dictionary">financial organization</span> or otherwise indicates consent as specified in subsection A, the <span class="dictionary">property</span> is matured upon the expiration of the last time period for which consent was given. If, at the time provided for delivery in subsection D of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Report and remittance to be made by holder of funds or property presumed abandoned; holder to exercise due diligence to locate owner" href="/55.1-2524/">55.1-2524</a>, a <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> or forfeiture in the payment of interest would result from the delivery of the <span class="dictionary">property</span>, the time for delivery is extended until the time when no <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> or forfeiture would result. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section to the contrary, any automatically renewable time deposit that has matured shall be presumed abandoned five years after the date of the second mailing of a statement of account or other notification or communication that was returned as undeliverable or five years after the date the <span class="dictionary">holder</span> discontinued the mailings to the <span class="dictionary">apparent owner</span>, whichever occurs earlier. However, any automatically renewable time deposit for which no such statement or other notification or mailing is required to be sent by the banking or <span class="dictionary">financial organization</span> shall be presumed abandoned as otherwise provided in this section. <a id="paragraph-277604" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-2503/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1984, c. 121, &#xA7; 55-210.3:01; 1985, c. 294; 1991, c. 357; 1995, c. 624; 1996, c. 419; 2000, cc. 733, 745; 2008, cc. 90, 556; 2018, cc. 359, 439; 2019, c. 712.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
