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 2017 more than $434 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 37 million unclaimed accounts, including $8 million for an estate, though most unclaimed account amounts are much more modest.
Our Office of Unclaimed Funds (OUF) 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.
OUF has been working to improve online services for those seeking to claim funds. Here are some recent improvements:
- Claimants can submit requested documents, such as a signed form or legal documents, online.
- Claims for deceased owners can be submitted online, cutting processing time in half.
- Automatic text messages can be sent to alert customers about the status of their claim.
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.
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Why isn’t the unclaimed funds site a secured site?
The Office of the State Comptroller is committed to protecting your privacy when you access our website and the online services we offer.
Websites operated by the Office of the State Comptroller have reasonable security measures in place to protect against the loss, misuse, and alteration of data and information under our control. Interactive applications may use encoding, secure certificates or other measures to protect this information. For further information concerning security of any application on our website, please contact us.
THE UNCLAIMED SITE IS VERY HARD TO GET ANY INFORMATION. My name comes up and they ask you to remember an address from almost 40 years ago. OK…I remembered the address then they ask you to provide proof that you lived at that address 40 years ago. Yeah…where did you put that electric bill hun from 1981…?
We apologize for the trouble you are having with the unclaimed funds site, but unfortunately, the NYSLRS Social Media Team cannot help you with unclaimed funds. You can contact the Office of Unclaimed Funds by email at nysouf@osc.ny.gov or by phone at 1-800-221-9311.
I forgot to cash a bank check ten years ago. Would that be classified as unclaimed funds?
You can use the search tool on the Unclaimed Funds site to see if there are any funds listed under your name.