A treasure trove of forgotten funds

Check today’s Vindicator for the 2008 unclaimed funds.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning County residents may be entitled to some of the $1.8 million in unclaimed funds turned over to the Ohio Division of Unclaimed Funds over the past year.

Kimberly Zurz, state Department of Commerce director, is urging county residents to join in the 2008 Unclaimed Funds Treasure Hunt by checking an advertisement in today’s Vindicator.

The advertisement includes 2,943 accounts of $50 or more in unclaimed funds that have been turned over to the division within the past year for individuals whose last known address was in Mahoning County.

The department defines unclaimed funds as money or the rights to money that has been dormant or forgotten. Common examples include dormant checking or savings accounts, forgotten rent and utility deposits, uncashed checks and uncashed insurance policies.

The goal is to help current or former Ohioans discover funds they “inadvertently lost track of over the years,” Zurz said.

The listed names appear in alphabetical order by the owner’s last known city and then in alphabetical order by the owner’s last name.

A comprehensive list can be found on the Department of Commerce’s Online Treasure Hunt Web site at http://www.com.state.oh.us/unfd/treasurehunt.asp.

Those without Internet access can write to the Division of Unclaimed Funds at 77 S. High St., 20th Floor, Columbus, Ohio, 43215. Full name or names to be researched, along with the counties in which the person or persons might have resided will need to be provided.

Anyone with questions about unclaimed funds can call the Ohio Division of Unclaimed Funds toll free at (877) 644-6823.