State Treasurer Fitzgerald's Spectacular Unclaimed Property Display

• by State of Iowa Treasurer's Office

DES MOINES, IA (06/29/2009)(readMedia)-- Each year on July 4th, Americans celebrate freedom and independence with barbeques and spectacular displays of fireworks. State Treasurer Fitzgerald would like to add to the festivities and encourage all current and past Iowans to visit the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt website to search for unclaimed property. To date, over $100 million has been returned to Iowans.

"Iowa holds millions of dollars in assets that need to find their way back to their owners," Fitzgerald said. "We've seen an increase in awareness of the program among past and current Iowans. It's encouraging in today's economy to know people can search for and find forgotten money. Every little bit helps during these tough economic times. Our goal is to keep reminding people to check their names for unclaimed property. We are consistently updating our website."

Unclaimed property in the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt can be forgotten savings/checking accounts, utility refunds or deposits, uncashed insurance benefit checks, lost stock and dividends or abandoned safe deposit box contents. When individuals do not respond over an extended period of time through regular mailings from banks and corporations, the property is reported to the State Treasurer's Office.

"I have been told by numerous individuals that they know of someone who has claimed money from the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt. We will continue to reach out and reunite these assets with their rightful owners," Fitzgerald stated.

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 at foundit@iowa.gov.