Fiscal year 2015 was another record setting year for the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Unclaimed Funds, as $76 million was returned to Ohioans. This was the second year in a row that the division topped its previous best, beating the record of $74.4 million set in fiscal year 2014. This represents a 2% increase, and the average claim was for $1,672.
Unclaimed funds are money or the rights to money that have been dormant or forgotten. Some common examples include: dormant checking and savings accounts, forgotten rent or utility deposits, uncashed checks, undelivered stock certificates and uncashed insurance policies.
“The Division of Unclaimed Funds has again shown their commitment to reuniting Ohioans with their hard-earned money with this new record,” Commerce Director Jacqueline T. Williams said. “The money returned has the opportunity to make a big difference in the lives of Ohioans, helping them to possibly pay off some bills, make repairs to their home or even expand a business which means jobs for Ohioans.”
Division Superintendent Yaw Obeng encourages Ohioans to visit http://www.com.ohio.gov/unfd/ to see if they have funds waiting to be claimed. Individuals without Internet access can write to the Division of Unclaimed Funds and provide the full name(s) to be researched, along with the counties in which the person(s) might have resided. The Division’s address is 77 South High Street, 20th Floor, Columbus, OH, 43215. Anyone with questions about unclaimed funds can call the Division toll free at 1-877-644-6823 (OHIO UCF).