Third-Highest Month for Returns Since Program Began in 1967
State Treasurer Riley Moore today announced his Office’s Unclaimed Property Division returned more than $4.1 million worth of unclaimed funds to individuals, businesses and other organizations during the month of April.
“We’re proud to announce April was the third-highest month for returning funds in the program’s history,” Treasurer Moore said. “The only two months with greater returns were the two months we distributed checks as part of the West Virginia Cash Now automated return program that launched more than two years ago, so this past month represents a significant achievement for the unclaimed property program and the people who are being reunited with their lost funds.”
The Unclaimed Property Division returned a total of $4,118,366 during the month. Since the fiscal year began last July, the Office has paid out a total of nearly $22.1 million worth of claims.
“We’re proud to continue returning funds at the fastest pace in state history,” Treasurer Moore said. “Meanwhile, we continue to get new listings in our database, so I encourage everyone to visit www.WVUnclaimedProperty.gov to see if we’re holding anything for you.”
The State Treasurer’s Office currently has more than $438 million worth of unclaimed property listings in its database. 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.