The State Treasurer administers Unclaimed Property for Missouri. His office currently holds nearly $700 million in Unclaimed Property in more than 4.3 million owner accounts.
Each year financial institutions, businesses, government agencies and other organizations turn over millions of dollars and the contents of nearly 1,000 safe deposit boxes to the State Treasurer’s office. One in 10 Missourians has Unclaimed Property and the average claim is about $300.
The State Treasurer uses a variety of resources to assist in finding the original owners or rightful heirs of Unclaimed Property, and maintains unclaimed funds in trust for the rightful owners or their legal heirs forever. Unclaimed Property never becomes the property of the state. Unclaimed Property holds the contents of abandoned safe deposit boxes for at least one year upon receipt. Silver bars, false teeth, diamond rings, cremated remains, letters signed by President Abraham Lincoln and many other items have been discovered when opening abandoned safe deposit boxes.
Although the State Treasurer would like to keep the contents of safe deposit boxes until an owner or heir is identified, the Unclaimed Property vault used to store non-monetary items of value (jewelry, coins, etc.) reaches capacity every couple of years. When the vault is full, the Treasurer hosts an auction, and the proceeds generated from the sale of items from safe deposit boxes are recorded in the name of the safe deposit box owner. If owners or heirs are identified, they receive the entire proceeds from the sale of the items.
To file a claim or check to see if you have unclaimed properties, please visit www.showmemoney.com,or call 573-751-0123 or write State Treasurer Zweifel at: PO Box 1004, Jefferson City, MO 65102.
