[CREDIT: RI Treasurer] RI Treasurer Seth Magaziner reports more than $1M in unclaimed property will be returned after thousands visited findrimoney.com.

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island General Treasurer James A. Diossa encouraged Rhode Islanders to learn if they have unclaimed property on National Unclaimed Property Day Wednesday.

“Whether it’s the rising cost of rent, groceries, or gasoline, families in Rhode Island are struggling to keep up,” said Diossa. “Through our Unclaimed Property Program, we are making it easier than ever for folks to receive money back that is rightfully theirs. I invite all Rhode Islanders to search for potential unclaimed property. Many folks will be pleasantly surprised to learn that they have monies being held by the state that they may not have otherwise known about.”

Nearly 33 million people in the United States – 1 in every 7 – has what the industry calls unclaimed property: financial accounts or items of value in which the owner has not initiated any activity for a number of years. When that happens, and the company cannot locate the owner, the money or properties are submitted to the state. Common examples include unpaid life insurance benefits, forgotten bank accounts, and unused rebate cards.

The Unclaimed Property Division returned nearly $11 million in unclaimed property to its rightful owners in 2019, resolving 9,763 separate claims.

Unclaimed property can include money left in old bank accounts and safe deposit boxes, uncashed paychecks, unused balances on gift certificates, unreturned utility deposits, uncollected insurance payments and forgotten stocks and dividends. Unclaimed property is held in safekeeping on behalf of individual Rhode Islanders, as well as businesses and nonprofits.

The Office of the General Treasurer has made Rhode Island one of the first states in the country to reunite many individuals and small businesses with their unclaimed property automatically with no paperwork involved through the YourMoney program. More information can be found at www.findRImoney.com. You may also contact RI Unclaimed Property at (401)462-7676 and at ups@treasury.ri.gov.

Author: Rob Borkowski

Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at editor@warwickpost.com with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.

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