MOUNT VERNON — Ohio Department of Commerce Director David Goodman urges Knox County residents to join in the 2011 Unclaimed Funds Treasure Hunt by checking the Mount Vernon News on Tuesday. By checking the newspaper advertisement, readers can find out if they are entitled to unclaimed funds turned over to the Ohio Division of Unclaimed Funds in the past year.
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 and utility deposits, uncashed checks, undelivered stock certificates, and uncashed insurance policies.
“Who couldn’t use a little extra money?” said Goodman. “I hope that residents of Knox County will take a couple of minutes to check to see if you, your family or your friends have unclaimed funds. We are committed to returning funds to their rightful owners.”
In fiscal year 2010, the division paid 41,992 claims worth more than $55.3 million. The average claim was for $1,318.
The Knox County advertisement will include 645 unclaimed funds accounts worth more than $222,126. The advertised accounts, each valued at $50 or more, were turned over to the division within the past year for individuals whose last known address was in Knox County. The advertised names will appear in alphabetical order by the owner’s last known city and then in alphabetical order by the owner’s last name. A comprehensive list of all unclaimed funds accounts is available on the Department of Commerce’s Online Treasure Hunt website at www.com.ohio.gov/unfd/TreasureHunt.aspx along with forms for individuals and organizations to use in claiming their money.
Division Superintendent Yaw Obeng encourages Ohioans to visit the website 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 S. High St., 20th Floor, Columbus, OH, 43215. Anyone with questions about unclaimed funds can call the Division toll free at 877-644-6823 (OHIO UCF).
Knox County information for all accounts (includes those being advertised and other accounts): Total number of Knox County accounts: 13,473; and value of Knox County accounts: $1,556,872.30.
