Oregon State Treasurer Tobias Read has announced that his department will be proactively returning approximately $10 million in unclaimed property this month as part of the agency's 2024 "Checks Without Claims" initiative.
State Treasurer Read said they're excited to reconnect thousands of individuals with their unclaimed funds without requiring any action on their part. In addition to collecting and safeguarding Oregonians' unclaimed property, he said his agency is committed to returning these assets and helping to bolster citizens' financial health.
Through "Checks Without Claims," the Oregon Treasury will proactively disburse payments to over 25,000 verified owners of unclaimed property reported to the state's Unclaimed Property Program in 2021 and 2022. Payments, via check, will be mailed to individuals this month, accompanied by a confirmation letter from the Treasurer.
In 2023, the Unclaimed Property Program conducted "Checks Without Claims" and reconnected more than 18,000 individuals -- from Oregon and 47 other states -- with their unclaimed funds.
With over $1 billion in unclaimed funds currently held by the state, "Checks Without Claims" is one of many efforts to reconnect Oregonians with their unclaimed money and property. Common examples of unclaimed property include uncashed checks, forgotten bank accounts, tax refunds, credit balances, investment accounts, payroll checks, refunds and more.
Nearly one in every seven people in the United States has unclaimed property. In Fiscal Year 2023, more than $5.4 billion in unclaimed property was returned to its rightful owners.
More about the program is available online at "Unclaimed.Oregon.Gov/checks-without-claims."
