Unclaimed Money: How to find out what’s Yours

Unclaimed money is also known as Escheat or unclaimed property. If you have unclaimed money or property, that money is held by the state and is then transferred to the Escheat Fund. The State Treasurer then holds that money until it is lawfully returned to its rightful owner. State money may include money derived from utility deposits that were never returned, or money deposited in bank accounts that have been abandoned.

It is possible that you have unclaimed money even though you were never aware of it. Today, searching for and claiming unclaimed money is made easy with the assistance of various websites and organizations. Here are some examples of the type of funds that may go unclaimed:

• U.S. Securities and Payments
• Insurance Refunds from HUD or the FHA
• Credit Unions
• Pensions
• Savings Accounts
• Checking Accounts
• Checks that have never been cashed
• Wages
• Utility Refunds
• Oil Royalties
• Bail Bonds
• Child Support Payments

There are a number of different sites and organizations that you will need to access to see if you have unclaimed money. Since each state has its own treasury department, it is important to search in various states where you have lived. However, there is a main database that is comprised of the various state agencies where you should begin your search. It is the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators. You can access it here. NAUPA By visiting the NAUPA website, you can access each state’s Department of Treasury individually and begin your search for unclaimed property.

There is another site that is an excellent resource for finding unclaimed money. It is also endorsed by NAUPA. It is called, Missing Money and it is a great resource that accesses all of the state’s databases by simply entering a name and state. You can also choose to search through all states for the widest results possible. You can visit Missing Money here: Missing Money, It is free to search and the site returns enough information that you should feel comfortable claiming your lost money. For example, not only does the search return the results for your selected name, but it also gives the last known address, as well as the name of the company or organization that has the unclaimed money. Currently Missing Money has 35 states listed in their database and they are continually adding more to their system.

Here are some additional sites that will help make your search for unclaimed money a bit easier. First there is Treasury Hunt. This site will let you search for lost savings bonds, securities, and interest payments that you haven’t received. You can access Treasury Hunt here: Treasury Hunt

Here is the website to determine if you are eligible for a HUD or FHA refund. HUD Refunds.

If you unclaimed money with a credit union you can look for your name on their list here: National Credit Union Administration. They also have links to state treasury websites as well.

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation exists to ensure that Missing Participants reclaim their money. You can visit their site here: PBGC