STATES HAVE BILLIONS IN UNCLAIMED FUNDS AND SOME OF IT MAY BE YOURS
Billions of dollars in unclaimed funds are sitting in state capitals like Columbus, Frankfort, and Indianapolis, and some of it could belong to you.
Akil Hardy, who heads the Ohio Division of Unclaimed Funds, reports that banks and businesses have added a staggering $279 million to the state's fund this fiscal year after being unable to locate the rightful owners. Despite the financial strain caused by the pandemic, only $54 million has been claimed so far.
“We anticipated seeing far more claims,” Hardy said. “But the money just sits there until the rightful owners come forward.”
The funds are held in an interest-bearing account, while other items—including rare coins and entire safe deposit box contents—are stored securely at the Department of Commerce. These items are held indefinitely until claimed.
"We’ve seen everything from stamps and postcards to poker chips from Las Vegas," Hardy said. "We’ve even had gold bars."
Some of the more unique items include a Vatican coin from the Sistine Chapel, a sterling silver set of U.S. presidential medallions, a USSR commemorative coin from the Battle of Stalingrad, and an 1886 dollar bill. The division is actively working to raise awareness about these unclaimed assets.
“Every little bit helps,” Hardy said. “We’ve seen claims as large as two million dollars.”
Not just individuals—cities, municipalities, and school districts also have unclaimed funds. FOX19 NOW Investigates found that the city of Hamilton had at least $5,000 waiting to be claimed, Middletown had $1,300, and Lakota Local School District had over $3,500.
Hardy noted that the division’s largest payout to date—$3.4 million—went to the city of Elyria near Cleveland. "It’s incredibly rewarding to return money that can genuinely change lives. For some, it means filling the gas tank or putting food on the table. For others, like one individual, it meant buying their first home," Hardy said.
