Is it possible you left money in an old bank account? Maybe you lost track of a security deposit, insurance payout, stock dividend or mutual fund? Could there be a distant relative who left bonds in your name?

State law requires banks, insurance companies, corporations and the courts to notify the owner of any dormant accounts. Despite these efforts, some funds remain unclaimed and are turned over to the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC). State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli  serves as the custodian of unclaimed funds until they’re claimed by the rightful owners.

In 2016, more than $400 million in unclaimed funds were returned to their owners. That’s more than $1 million a day. The single biggest claim ever paid occurred in 2008 – a $4 million stock claim.

Yet OSC’s Office of Unclaimed Funds still holds over 35 million unclaimed accounts, including a $2.6 million joint account, though most unclaimed account amounts are much more modest.

Our Unclaimed Funds Office has made it easy for you to search for money that may belong to you. It takes just a few minutes to search the online Unclaimed Funds database, and it’s free. And if you find some lost money, it would make a great addition to your retirement savings.

Visit OSC’s Unclaimed Funds website, click the Search Now button, enter your name and click “search.” If you find your name in the database, you can file your claim online and have your money within two weeks, if you’re the rightful owner. To protect you from fraud, we can’t tell you the amount of your claim until we receive and confirm your proof of ownership.

There is no charge for searching for unclaimed funds or filing a claim. Location service providers are allowed to charge a 15 percent finder’s fee for locating unclaimed funds, but these companies have no special access to our database and will not get you your money any faster.