State Treasurer Clint Zweifel (ZWY-ful) announced his statewide effort to increase Unclaimed Property returns through statewide advertising that will put 87,000 names in print. Starting the week of June 14, Missourians who have had property turned over to Unclaimed Property in the past year will see their names in newspapers throughout the state. The advertising is required by state law, and those seeing their name listed should go to www.ShowMeMoney.com to start the claims process.
"Each year I receive millions in Unclaimed Property because individuals have moved, family members have passed away or assets have been forgotten. I then hold this property in trust until it is returned whether it is a bank account, safe deposit box or stock, and we work to return it as fast as possible," Treasurer Zweifel said. "In fact, the wait time is down from 43 days when I took office to a 15-day average now, and I never charge for the return of property."
Treasurer Zweifel has returned more than $44 million to more than 120,000 accounts since he took office in January 2009. He has been able to return record amounts, while increasing the number of claims processed and reducing the time it takes to get property out the door, by creating a 100 percent paperless claims process that is available to most accounts worth $250 or less. Of 3.5 million accounts held, 88 percent are $250 or less and may qualify for paperless processing.
"One in 10 Missourians has Unclaimed Property. Paperless claims allow each person who is owed Unclaimed Property to easily search and file," Treasurer Zweifel said. "The faster I return the property, the faster it can help with groceries, pay a bill or fill the gas tank. We know that every penny counts right now, and want to make it as easy as possible for Missourians to get their Unclaimed Property."
Go to www.ShowMeMoney.com to search for Unclaimed Property.
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's office that belong to a customer, client, employee or other owner if there have been no documented transactions or contact with the owner for five or more 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's office does not handle real property such as land, houses, cars and boats. There is $600 million in Unclaimed Property maintained by Treasurer Zweifel. Treasurer Zweifel never charges for the return of Unclaimed Property.
