Nearly $2 million in unclaimed funds

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A list of 3,863 unclaimed funds worth nearly $2 million is in today’s edition of The Vindicator.

David Goodman, Ohio Department of Commerce director, is urging Mahoning County to join in the “2011 Unclaimed Funds Treasure Hunt” by checking the newspaper to find out if they are entitled to unclaimed funds turned over to the Ohio Division of Unclaimed Funds in the past year.

Unclaimed funds are the rights to money that have been forgotten or dormant such as checking and savings accounts, forgotten rent and utility deposits, uncashed checks, undelivered stock certificates and uncashed insurance policies.

“Who couldn’t use a little extra money?” Goodman said. “I hope that residents of Mahoning County will take a couple of minutes to check to see if you, your family or your friends have unclaimed funds. We are committed to returning funds to their rightful owners.”

The division paid 46,222 claims worth about $61 million statewide last year. The average claim was for $1,318.

The accounts, each valued at $50 or more, were turned over to the division within the past year for individuals whose last known address was in Mahoning County. The advertised 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 of all unclaimed funds accounts is available on the Department of Commerce’s Online Treasure Hunt website at www.com.ohio.gov/unfd/TreasureHunt.aspx along with forms for individuals and organizations to use in claiming their money.