Five Minutes Could Find Cash Your State Is Holding for You

There May Be Money With Your Name on It

Every state holds money that belongs to regular people. It piles up from old bank accounts, forgotten paychecks, utility deposits, insurance payouts, and refunds that never reached the right address.

When a company cannot find you, it eventually hands the money to the state. The state holds it until you claim it. There is no deadline that makes it disappear, and the search costs nothing.

You do not need to know an amount or a date. You just type in your name and see what comes up. Many people find a little. Some find a lot. Either way, it is your money.

Step by Step: How to Search This Week

1. Set aside five minutes. Have your full legal name ready, plus any names you have used before (maiden name, nicknames).

2. Start at your state's official unclaimed property website. You can find it through the free national search run by state treasurers.

3. Type in your name and the state where you live or have lived. Search old states too, since money stays where it was left.

4. Check any matches. The site will show a name and sometimes a city to help you confirm it is you.

5. File a claim online if there is a match. You may be asked for proof of identity or your old address. This is normal and still free.

Watch Out for People Who Want a Cut

The official state process is always free. You never have to pay to search or to claim your own money.

Sometimes companies called 'finders' will contact you and offer to recover your money for a fee. You do not need them. You can do the same search and the same claim yourself, for nothing.

OpenFinancial is not a bank or a government agency, and we cannot get your money faster. We just point you to the free official path. Every state has its own program. Start with your state's official site and search for free.

Frequently asked questions

Does it cost anything to search for unclaimed money?

No. Searching and claiming through your state's official site is always free. You never have to pay a fee to find or receive your own money.

Is there a deadline to claim it?

In most states the money is held until you claim it, so there is no rush. But it is worth checking now while you are thinking about it.

What if a company offers to find my money for a fee?

You do not need them. You can do the exact same free search and claim yourself. Be careful before paying anyone a cut of money that is already yours.

Do I need to know the amount before I search?

No. Just enter your name. The site shows any matches and whether money is being held for you.