Successful Iowa State Fair for Treasure Hunters

DES MOINES, IA (08/23/2016)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald announced today that thousands of Iowa State fairgoers discovered lost treasures. "The Great Iowa Treasure Hunt booth had a record breaking year at the Iowa State Fair," Fitzgerald said. "Over 10,000 claims of unclaimed property were discovered; this was certainly a phenomenal year. Claims totaled over $2 million, with the largest treasure found being $62,720.00. As this year's fair demostrates, we are dedicated to reuniting Iowans with their missing treasure."

The Great Iowa Treasure Hunt program has returned over $216 million in unclaimed property to more than 504,000 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 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.

Visit the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt at GreatIowaTreasureHunt.gov to begin your search. Like Great Iowa Treasure Hunt on Facebook and follow the program on Twitter @GreatIATreasure.

###