Unclaimed money by state: every official portal

How the process works in every state

1. 01A business — an employer, bank, insurer, utility, brokerage, or court — loses contact with you and cannot deliver money it owes.
2. 02After a dormancy period set by state law (usually one to five years), that business is legally required to report and remit the funds to the state.
3. 03The state holds the money in trust indefinitely and publishes the owner's name in a free public database.
4. 04You search the database, prove your identity and your connection to the reported address, and the state mails a check or sends an ACH deposit.

Federal sources states do not cover

State portals only hold property reported by private businesses. These six federal databases are separate and are the most commonly missed.

• IRS unclaimed tax refunds — More than $1 billion in refunds go unclaimed every year. Check 'Where's My Refund' and file any missing return within three years.
• TreasuryDirect Treasury Hunt — Matured but uncashed U.S. savings bonds, including bonds inherited from relatives.
• PBGC unclaimed pensions — The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation holds benefits for people whose employer pension plan terminated.
• National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits — Old 401(k) and 403(b) balances left behind at former employers.
• FDIC & NCUA failed-institution funds — Deposits from banks and credit unions that failed before the balance was transferred.
• HUD/FHA mortgage insurance refunds — Refunds owed on FHA-insured loans that were paid off early.

Frequently asked questions