More than 100,000 names of Unclaimed Property owners to be published throughout Missouri, Treasurer Zweifel says

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Publishing of names is required by state statute to occur each year

JEFFERSON CITY – State Treasurer Clint Zweifel (ZWY-ful) today announced more than 100,000 names will appear in newspapers across the state as part of an annual effort to return Unclaimed Property to Missourians. Beginning June 17, Missouri families, businesses and local governments with Unclaimed Property may find their information listed in local newspapers. Missouri law requires these advertisements be published annually, listing the names of individuals whose Unclaimed Property valued at $50 or more has been turned over to the Treasurer in the past year.

“Each year I receive nearly $100 million of Unclaimed Property and my team works diligently to return as much of the property I protect as possible,” Treasurer Zweifel said. “I currently protect nearly $1 billion total of Unclaimed Property for account owners. An estimated one in 10 Missourians has some Unclaimed Property, and these statutorily required notices are just one of the many ways we reach out to Missourians to encourage them to visit ShowMeMoney.com to claim their property entirely free of charge. If you believe you, or someone you know may have property, please look for every variation of the name in the newspaper and on my website.”

The Unclaimed Property program was statutorily created in 1985 and became part of the State Treasurer’s Office in 1993. Treasurer Zweifel has returned nearly $300 million since he took office in January 2009, more than half of all property returned in state history. The average Unclaimed Property return is $300. Individuals, businesses, nonprofit organizations and local governments can search for Unclaimed Property 24 hours a day at ShowMeMoney.com.  There you can also sign up to receive email notifications when Unclaimed Property comes in matching your information, or you can send notifications to family and friends, letting them know about Unclaimed Property being held for them.

About Treasurer Zweifel’s Unclaimed Property
State law requires financial institutions, insurance companies, public agencies and other business entities to turn over assets to Treasurer Zweifel that belong to a customer, client, employee or other owner if there have been no documented transactions or contact with the owner after a statutorily-defined period of time, generally five years. Most Unclaimed Property consists of cash from bank accounts, stocks, bonds and contents of safe deposit boxes that have been abandoned. It also can include uncollected insurance policy proceeds, government refunds, utility deposits and wages from past jobs. Treasurer Zweifel does not handle real property such as land and houses or certain types of personal property such as cars and boats. There is more than $935 million in Unclaimed Property maintained by Treasurer Zweifel.  Treasurer Zweifel never charges for the return of Unclaimed Property.

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