Unclaimed property ahead of last fiscal year’s pace

State Treasurer John Perdue’s office is approaching last fiscal year’s unclaimed property return figures with about three months left in the current year.
The office has returned $8.2 million in unclaimed property through March 17, as opposed to $5.9 million through March 19, 2015. The $8.2 million is rapidly approaching the $9.1 million returned in all of fiscal 2015, with April, May and June still left in the current year.
“We continue to push the return of unclaimed property, with one tool being our increased emphasis on an automated letter system,” Treasurer Perdue said. “These automated letters are a proactive solution to getting lost assets returned to rightful owners.”
Unclaimed property is any asset which an individual has lost or from which he has become separated. Classic examples are abandoned safe deposit box contents; a forgotten final paycheck; or a utility deposit left behind upon moving. Real estate is not included in unclaimed property. The Treasurer’s Office works to reunite owners with financial assets and safe deposit box contents. Those efforts involve the use of field staff; a database which can be found at www.wvtreasury.com; and the publication of about 25,000 names in two separate newspaper inserts. The inserts are distributed twice a year, to the largest newspaper in each county. Some are direct mailed. The next round of inserts run from April 7 to April 21.