A Visit to State Treasurer Fitzgerald's Great Iowa Treasure Hunt Website May be Bountiful for Many Iowans

DES MOINES, IA (11/10/2011)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald knows that Thanksgiving is a time for friends and family to gather and celebrate being together, not to mention eating a lot of great food. However, he wants Iowans to know that his office has a bounty of its own and the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt could provide one more reason to give thanks. "I encourage everyone to check for their name in the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt," said Fitzgerald, "A quick search on our website can reunite people with their unclaimed property."

The Great Iowa Treasure Hunt program has returned over $135 million in unclaimed property to more than 314,000 people since Fitzgerald created it in 1983. Unclaimed property refers to money and other assets held by financial institutions or companies that have lost contact with the property's owner for a specific period of time. State law requires these institutions and companies to annually report and deliver unclaimed property to the State Treasurer's Office. The assets are then held until the owner or heir of the property is found. Common forms of unclaimed property include savings or checking accounts, stocks, uncashed checks, life insurance policies, utility security deposits, and safe deposit box contents.

"Those who take the time to search our list may find they have more to be thankful for than they could have possibly imagined," stated Fitzgerald. "We are currently holding unclaimed property for individuals from all around the state. I encourage everyone to gather around their computers and visit the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt website to look for their names."

For more information about the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt, please visit www.greatiowatreasurehunt.com. Treasure seekers may also write to State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald, Great Iowa Treasure Hunt, Lucas State Office Building, Des Moines, IA 50319 or correspond by email to foundit@iowa.gov.

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