Fifth-Highest Month for Returns in Program History

State Treasurer Riley Moore today announced his Office’s Unclaimed Property Division returned more than $3.5 million worth of unclaimed funds to individuals, businesses and other organizations during the month of May.

“We’re thrilled to continue returning funds at the fastest pace in state history,” Treasurer Moore said. “May was the fifth-highest month of returns dating back to when the program began in 1967, and that was on top of April being our third-highest month for returns. We are proud to get these lost funds back to their rightful owners.”

The Unclaied Property Division returned a total of $3,533,710 during the month. Since the fiscal year began last July, the Office has paid out a total of nearly $25.5 million worth of claims.

While the Office is returning funds at a record pace, it continues to receive a steady stream of new unclaimed properties from holders on a regular basis. The State Treasurer’s Office currently has nearly $438 million worth of unclaimed property listings in its database.

“Just because you didn’t have anything listed a few months ago doesn’t mean there isn’t something for you now, since holders are continually turning over new listings to our Office,” Treasurer Moore said. “This is why we’re constantly telling people to keep checking our website – www.WVUnclaimedProperty.gov – to see if we’re holding anything for you.”

To learn more about the unclaimed property program and to search its database, visit www.WVUnclaimedProperty.gov.

What is Unclaimed Property?

Unclaimed property can include financial accounts or items of value in which the owner has not initiated any activity for one year or longer. Common examples include unpaid life insurance benefits, forgotten bank accounts and unused rebate cards. (While the title includes the word “property,” it does not however include real estate.)

West Virginia’s unclaimed property laws protect the public by ensuring money and property owed to them is returned to them, rather than remaining permanently with financial institutions, business associations, governments and other entities. The Treasurer seeks to reunite the unclaimed property, including uncashed paychecks, stocks, or safe deposit box contents, with its owner.

Nationwide, nearly 33 million people in the United States – one in every 10 – are estimated to have unclaimed property available for them to claim.

How Can I Find Unclaimed Property in My Name?

West Virginians searching for lost financial assets can go to www.WVUnclaimedProperty.gov. In addition to finding property, the website will also help you track a claim.

A demonstration of how to use the Unclaimed Property search site is available on the Treasury’s YouTube page, at: https://youtu.be/K09yQ7YNKlE.

To search for lost financial assets outside West Virginia, visit www.MissingMoney.com.