DES MOINES, IOWA (May 16, 2024) — State Treasurer Roby Smith is sharing how he continues to protect the unclaimed assets of Iowa's citizens and businesses. "Keeping Iowa's money safe is a top priority of mine, which includes assets that have been forgotten or lost by their owner," said Smith. "To add another layer of protection, we've implemented additional Great Iowa Treasure Hunt security features to help us prevent fraudsters from attempting to steal money that isn't theirs."
Each year, millions of dollars are turned over to the State Treasurer's Office after financial institutions and businesses lose contact with the owner. Through Great Iowa Treasure Hunt events, press, social-media, and other promotional efforts, the program works to reunite the assets with their rightful owner. "With scammers becoming more sophisticated, it is crucial for Great Iowa Treasure Hunt to stay prepared for such threats," Smith said. "Now there is an additional assessment done on every claim to ensure the safety of the unclaimed funds we're holding."
These lost assets come from instances such as dormant checking and savings accounts, uncashed checks, utility refunds, lost stocks, and life-insurance policies. In addition to money, contents from abandoned safe-deposit boxes are also held in safekeeping. Currently, the State Treasurer's Office is holding more than $528 million in unclaimed funds waiting to be claimed, and more than one million owners have been reunited with their lost assets.
To see if you have unclaimed property in Iowa, visit Great Iowa Treasure Hunt.gov. Connect with the Treasurer on Facebook, Instagram, and X to stay up-to-date on all areas of the office.
