If I owe a bank loan and have not collected it for ten years, has it exceeded the legal statute of limitations? The answer depends on the repayment agreement of the loan. If a repayment date is specified in the contract, the statute of limitations is two years from that date. If there is no clear date, the statute of limitations shall be calculated from the date when the borrower or lender first requests repayment, and shall not exceed twenty years.

According to Article 135 of the General Principles of Civil Law, the statute of limitations for debts with a clear repayment period is two years. For indefinite loans, the lender can demand it at any time, and the statute of limitations starts when the creditor first asserts its rights. The period of legal protection is not static. If there are special circumstances, such as force majeure that makes it impossible to claim rights, the statute of limitations will be suspended. The period of suspension will not be included in the statute of limitations. After the reasons for the suspension are eliminated, the statute of limitations will continue to count.

In general, if the bank has not demanded payment before and there is no clear repayment date, the creditor must make a claim within two years of knowing or should have known that the right has been violated, otherwise it may lose legal protection. Please consult professional legal personnel to confirm the specific time limit to ensure that your own rights and interests are not damaged.