Fitzgerald Announces Great Iowa Treasure Hunt hits $250 Million Milestone

DES MOINES, IA (08/30/2018) (readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald announced today the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt has reached a milestone of $250 million in unclaimed property returned. "Since the program's inception in 1983, we have returned over $250 million through the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt to more than 592,000 past and present Iowans," Fitzgerald said. "This milestone reinforces our dedication to reuniting unclaimed property with its rightful owners."

Individuals may search anytime through the GreatIowaTreasureHunt.gov website. In addition, the state treasurer's office mails letters, attends events such as the Iowa State Fair, publishes names in the newspapers and utilizes other opportunities to remind people to check the list. "I'm pleased we've returned over $250 million, Fitzgerald stated. "But there is still over $358 million to return, so our work is not done."

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, where it is 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.

Visit the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt at GreatIowaTreasureHunt.gov to begin your search. Keep up with all of our programs on social media (Facebook and Twitter @IowaTreasurer).

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