DES MOINES — State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald announced that thousands of Iowa State fairgoers discovered lost treasures. “Claims totaled more than $1.5 million, with the largest treasure found being $43,452,” Fitzgerald said.
The Great Iowa Treasure Hunt program has returned more than $198 million in unclaimed property to more than 468,000 people since Fitzgerald created it in 1983. Unclaimed property refers to money and other assets held by financial institutions or companies that have lost contact with the property’s owner for a specific period of time.
State law requires these institutions and companies to annually report unclaimed property to the state treasurer’s office. Common forms of unclaimed property include savings or checking accounts, stocks, uncashed checks, life insurance policies, utility security deposits and safe deposit box contents.
Visit GreatIowaTreasureHunt.gov to see if you have money waiting for you.