About the Division of Unclaimed Funds

Who are we?

The Division of Unclaimed Funds is part of the Ohio Department of Commerce and was created to protect Ohio citizens who have inactive accounts with financial institutions and other entities. The Division is responsible for the safekeeping and return of monies designated as "unclaimed". Each year, due to death, inadvertence or forgetfulness, more than 200,000 people and organizations lose track of monies, rights to monies, and intangible property in Ohio. Enacted in 1968 to protect people who lost track of their money, the unclaimed funds laws allow the division to ensure that holders report unclaimed funds.

Common sources of unclaimed funds include:

  • dormant savings and checking accounts
  • unpaid insurance policies
  • underlying shares of stock
  • unreturned rent and utility deposits
  • forgotten layaway deposits
  • credit memos
  • unclaimed wages or commissions
  • securities
  • undelivered and uncashed stock dividends
  • credit balances
  • uncashed checks
  • intangible contents of safe deposit boxes

The division has more than 3.2 million accounts worth over 1 billion in its custody, and its diligent efforts to locate missing owners and reunite them with their lost assets has been successful year after year. The purpose of the division’s community outreach program is to make the public aware that unclaimed funds are being held by the division on behalf of private individuals and organizations, and assist in returning those funds to the rightful owners.

What is our mission?

The primary mission of the division is to return unclaimed funds to the rightful owners.

The formal mission statement is as follows:

Mission Statement

"To improve the quality of service to our customers by collecting unclaimed property equitably, managing the property wisely and effectively, and returning it timely to the rightful owners."

Vision Statement

"To be a leader among unclaimed property administrations by utilizing innovative, technological advances while emphasizing positive customer service."

How are we structured?

The Superintendent of the Division of Unclaimed Funds, Yaw Obeng, was appointed by the Director of the Department of Commerce, and administers the activities of the division, which is divided into the four sections:

Administrative

This section is responsible for administering policies and procedures for the Division in compliance with the Unclaimed Funds Laws of Ohio.

Claims Processing Section

This section is responsible is responsible for establishing the validity, processing and authorizing payment of all claims, proactive owner location activities ("treasure hunts"), processing all requests for claim forms and finder requirements; and, It also provides the clerical support for the division.

Compliance

This section handles questions relating to holder reporting and forms, enforces compliance with Ohio’s Unclaimed Funds Law, examines holder assets and reviews holder reports for compliance.

Accountability

This section processes holder reports/remittances and related securities and safe deposit box contents received and issues 90% retention account investment instructions to holders. It also handles the data entry of accounts and processing of electronic reports.

Fiscal

Handles requisite account receivable and payable transactions and the record retention schedule for the division as well as the biennium budget.

Whom do we serve?

The holders and rightful owners of unclaimed funds held in safekeeping by the State of Ohio.

What do we do?

The Division is responsible for the safekeeping and return of moneys designated as "unclaimed." Dormant accounts are turned over to the division by business entities such as financial institutions, corporations, proprietorships, partnerships and estates; trusts; charitable organization; fraternal or cooperative associations; and other legal or community entities. Within the unclaimed funds industry, these entities are referred to as holders.

Reporting is necessary whether or not businesses believe they hold unclaimed funds. All holders are responsible for filing reports on behalf of their branches, divisions or other affiliated entities. Subsidiaries, if separate entities, may report separately. Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section 169.01 (D)(2), the only entities exempt from reporting are 501.C3 hospitals and political subdivisions. For more information on the laws and rules regulating unclaimed funds in Ohio, you can access a searchable version of the Ohio Revised Code at http://www.com.state.oh.us/unfd/revcodes.aspx.

The Division has more than 2.6 million accounts in its custody. Because of this vast number of accounts, we developed Community Outreach Programs to notify the public of unclaimed funds that are being held by the Division on behalf of private individuals and organizations. Our main programs are described below.

Annually, we publish advertisements in newspapers in each of Ohio’s 88 counties. The advertisements list owners of accounts valued at $50 or more that were reported to the Division during the prior year. Additionally, under the auspices of the Community Outreach Program, lists of owners of unclaimed funds are sent to every county treasurer.

In 1997, the Division put its entire database on its website. This database, which is completely searchable by name, includes accounts from the Division’s inception in 1968. To date our website continues to grow in popularity. When it was first created, the website only averaged 45 hits per day, but now it averages over 3000 hits per day. After media coverage, that number increases dramatically to as many as 6000 or more hits per day!

If you would like to search on-line for funds under your name, click here and follow the instructions. If you find accounts belonging to you or someone you know, you can either print the claim form, complete it and return with proper documentation for processing, to us at 77 South High Street, 20th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215-6108. If you are unable to print the form, please complete all the required fields then click on the "Have Claim Form Mailed" button and we will mail a claim form to you.

Pursuant to section 169.06 of the Ohio Revised Code, you must possess a property interest in an unclaimed account in order to request a claim form. A property interest can include ownership or a right to the unclaimed funds; however, you may also request a claim form for a family member or friend.

Be advised that the information provided on this website is for the use of the general public and is not intended for paid, professional finders. These listings do not contain sufficient information to enable preparation of the required full-disclosure contract, nor is a "check received date" available for calculation of the 24 month waiting period. If you have questions, please e-mail us at unfd.claims@com.state.oh.us.

How are we funded?

The Division is funded through the collection and investment of unclaimed funds as stipulated by Ohio Revised Code Section 169.05 (B). Basically, our first responsibility is to pay all claims. After that, the Division is allowed to use funds and interest from the funds to pay for advertising, operating and administrative expenses related to enforcement of the unclaimed funds laws.