63.29.060 - Bank deposits and funds in financial organizations.

Bank deposits and funds in financial organizations.

(1) Any demand, savings, or matured time deposit with a banking or financial organization, including a deposit that is automatically renewable, and any funds paid toward the purchase of a share, a mutual investment certificate, or any other interest in a banking or financial organization is presumed abandoned unless the owner, within three years, has:

     (a) In the case of a deposit, increased or decreased its amount or presented the passbook or other similar evidence of the deposit for the crediting of interest;

     (b) Communicated in writing with the banking or financial organization concerning the property;

     (c) Otherwise indicated an interest in the property as evidenced by a memorandum or other record on file prepared by an employee of the banking or financial organization;

     (d) Owned other property to which subsection (1)(a), (b), or (c) of this section applies and if the banking or financial organization communicates in writing with the owner with regard to the property that would otherwise be presumed abandoned under this subsection at the address to which communications regarding the other property regularly are sent; or

     (e) Had another relationship with the banking or financial organization concerning which the owner has:

     (i) In the case of a deposit, increased or decreased the amount of the deposit or presented the passbook or other similar evidence of the deposit for the crediting of interest;

     (ii) Communicated in writing with the banking or financial organization; or

     (iii) Otherwise indicated an interest as evidenced by a memorandum or other record on file prepared by an employee of the banking or financial organization and if the banking or financial organization communicates in writing with the owner with regard to the property that would otherwise be abandoned under this subsection at the address to which communications regarding the other relationship regularly are sent.

     (2) For purposes of subsection (1) of this section property includes interest and dividends.

     (3) This chapter shall not apply to deposits made by a guardian or decedent's personal representative with a banking organization when the deposit is subject to withdrawal only upon the order of the court in the guardianship or estate proceeding.

     (4) A holder may not impose with respect to property described in subsection (1) of this section any charge due to dormancy or inactivity or cease payment of interest unless:

     (a) There is an enforceable written contract between the holder and the owner of the property pursuant to which the holder may impose a charge or cease payment of interest;

     (b) For property in excess of ten dollars, the holder, no more than three months before the initial imposition of those charges or cessation of interest, has given written notice to the owner of the amount of those charges at the last known address of the owner stating that those charges will be imposed or that interest will cease, but the notice provided in this section need not be given with respect to charges imposed or interest ceased before June 30, 1983; and

     (c) The holder regularly imposes such charges or ceases payment of interest and does not regularly reverse or otherwise cancel them or retroactively credit interest with respect to the property.

     (5) Any property described in subsection (1) of this section that is automatically renewable is matured for purposes of subsection (1) of this section upon the expiration of its initial time period, or after one year if the initial period is less than one year, but 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 financial organization or otherwise indicating consent as evidenced by a memorandum or other record on file prepared by an employee of the organization, the property is matured upon the expiration of the last time period for which consent was given. If, at the time provided for delivery in RCW 63.29.190, a penalty or forfeiture in the payment of interest would result from the delivery of the property, the time for delivery is extended until the time when no penalty or forfeiture would result.

[2003 1st sp.s. c 13 § 3; 1983 c 179 § 6.]

Notes: Effective dates -- 2003 1st sp.s. c 13: See note following RCW 63.29.020.