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The short answer
To reactivate a dormant Access Bank account, contact the bank (07003000000 or ContactCenter@accessbankplc.com) or visit a branch with a valid ID and your BVN; Access Bank's own dormant-accounts page tells holders to contact it for guidance rather than listing an online route. If the balance has already been remitted to the CBN's Unclaimed Balances Trust Fund, you file an Asset Reclaim Form with proof of ownership, ID, BVN or TIN and a recent utility bill.
An account goes quiet for many ordinary reasons: you moved abroad, switched your salary to another bank, or simply forgot a savings account opened years ago. Once a Nigerian bank classifies an account as dormant, you can usually still receive money into it, but you cannot use it freely until you prove you are the owner. This guide sets out what Access Bank says publicly, what it does not say, and the two different routes depending on whether your money is still with the bank or has been sent to the Central Bank of Nigeria.
What Access Bank publishes about dormant accounts
Access Bank keeps a Dormant Accounts page in its help section. It says the bank publishes the list of dormant accounts it holds because the CBN requires it, to help rightful owners or their beneficiaries reactivate them. The page links two documents: dormant accounts pending remittance to the CBN as at Q1 2026, and a summary of dormant balances already remitted between Q3 2024 and Q1 2026.
What the page does not do is state how many months without a customer-initiated transaction turn an account inactive or dormant. It also gives no online form, fee or processing time. Its instruction is simply to contact Access Bank for guidance. So treat any exact month count you see on blogs as unconfirmed for Access Bank, and ask the bank to tell you the status of your own account.
Route 1: the money is still with Access Bank
If your account is dormant but the balance has not been remitted, reactivation is a know-your-customer exercise. The bank needs to be satisfied that the person asking is the account holder and that its records are current. Expect to be asked for:
- A valid government ID: NIN slip or card, international passport, driver's licence or voter's card (the same list Access Bank uses in its reclaim document)
- Your BVN, and your NIN if it is not yet linked to the account (see linking BVN and NIN at Access Bank)
- Proof of address if your details have changed, typically a utility bill from the last three months
- A signed reactivation request, which the branch or contact centre will give you
- A passport photograph, if your records need updating
Branches are the most reliable place to complete this because staff can capture your signature and biometric details. If you are outside Nigeria, call or email first and ask whether a signed instruction plus scanned ID will be accepted; Access Bank's page does not confirm a remote process.
Route 2: the balance has gone to the CBN trust fund
Banks remit long-dormant balances to the CBN-managed Unclaimed Balances Trust Fund (UBTF). The money is not lost. Access Bank's UBTF Reclaim Process Document sets out a three-step process: you submit the completed Asset Reclaim Form with supporting documents to the bank; the bank checks them against its records; then it forwards the claim to the UBTF for final CBN approval, which the document says is typically within 10 working days as prescribed by the CBN's guidelines.
| Claimant | Documents Access Bank lists |
|---|---|
| Account owner | Proof of ownership (old statement, bank reference letter or email alerts), valid ID, BVN or TIN |
| Beneficiary or administrator | Letter of administration or grant of probate, administrator's ID, death certificate, BVN or TIN, passport photograph, current utility bill |
| Company | CAC status report, board resolution authorising the reclaim, signatories' signatures, TIN |
| Any claimant missing originals | A sworn court affidavit |
The form also asks for a recent passport photograph and an indemnity signed by you and the bank's Chief Compliance Officer. Claimants living abroad can use a utility bill showing a foreign address, and rural claimants can use confirmation from a local government authority or traditional ruler. The form mentions an affidavit for amounts above ₦10,000.
Steps to follow
- Check the Q1 2026 dormant list and the remittance summary on Access Bank's Dormant Accounts page to see which route applies.
- Call 07003000000 (24 hours) or email ContactCenter@accessbankplc.com with your account number and ask for the account status.
- Gather ID, BVN, NIN and a recent utility bill before you visit; bring an old statement or alert as proof of ownership.
- Complete the reactivation request or Asset Reclaim Form at a branch and keep a copy with the date and the officer's name.
- Ask for a reference number and the expected timeline, then make a small transaction once the account is active so it does not lapse again.
If it is taking too long
Follow up through the bank's complaint channels first. The CBN's guide on lodging a complaint says the institution should acknowledge your complaint and give a tracking number within three days, and you should allow two weeks for resolution before escalating to the CBN Consumer Protection Department at cpd@cbn.gov.ng. Our guide to complaining about a bank in Nigeria covers what to include. Your deposit is also protected by the NDIC while it is in a licensed bank.
Where Pryme fits
Many dormant accounts belong to Nigerians who have moved abroad. A Pryme account can be opened from any country and holds naira alongside other currencies, with naira deposits held by Solid Allianze Microfinance Bank, so you can keep a working Nigerian account without visiting a branch. See how it works and our guide to managing Nigerian accounts when you move abroad.
Questions people ask
How many months before an Access Bank account becomes dormant?
Access Bank's dormant-accounts page does not state a month count. Ask the contact centre for your account's status rather than relying on blog figures.
Can I reactivate my Access Bank account online?
The bank's page does not describe an online reactivation route; it says to contact Access Bank for guidance. Call 07003000000 or email ContactCenter@accessbankplc.com to ask what is possible from where you are.
Is my money lost if my dormant account was sent to CBN?
No. Balances remitted to the Unclaimed Balances Trust Fund can be reclaimed through the bank using an Asset Reclaim Form, ID, BVN or TIN and proof of ownership.
Can a family member reclaim a dead relative's dormant Access Bank account?
Yes, as a beneficiary or administrator with a letter of administration or grant of probate, a death certificate, their own ID and BVN, a passport photograph and a current utility bill.
Sources
- Access Bank: Dormant Accounts · accessed Oct 2026
- Access Bank: UBTF Reclaim Process Document · accessed Oct 2026
- CBN: How to Lodge a Complaint (24 Jan 2022) · accessed Oct 2026
- NDIC: home page · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.