Ohio officials are encouraging residents to see if they have money waiting to be claimed through the state’s Division of Unclaimed Funds.
The Ohio Department of Commerce has launched a new statewide advertising campaign featuring Lt. Governor Jim Tressel to remind Ohioans to check for unclaimed funds, which can include dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, stocks and bonds, utility deposits, and unpaid wages.
The campaign comes as the state continues to hold nearly $4.8 billion in unclaimed funds.
House Bill 96, signed by Governor Mike DeWine in June 2025, created a 10-year deadline for Ohioans to claim their money before it becomes state property.
The law also provided funding to increase public awareness about the program.
“It only takes a few minutes to check if there is money that belongs to you or your family,” said Lt. Governor Jim Tressel. “I encourage every Ohioan to visit the website, do a quick search, and make sure they aren’t leaving behind something that’s theirs.”
Residents can search for unclaimed funds by visiting unclaimedfunds.ohio.gov and entering their name, city and ZIP code.
If money is found, the state’s updated online system allows users to submit a claim and upload any required documents electronically.
State officials say interest in the program has grown significantly.
Over the past year, the number of claims submitted has increased by about 50 percent.
In 2025, the Division of Unclaimed Funds returned more than $149.6 million to Ohioans through nearly 68,000 claims.
During the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2026, the division paid more than 182,000 claims, a 168 percent increase over the previous year.
The Division has also streamlined the claims process by eliminating the requirement for a W-9 tax form, removing the need for claim forms to be notarized, and adding additional staff to process claims.
Those improvements have reduced the backlog of pending claims by 12 percent.
“Reuniting Ohioans with their hard-earned money is at the heart of our mission,” Division Superintendent Akil Hardy said. “This campaign, combined with the important work happening on the backend, will allow us to reach and return unclaimed funds to more Ohioans than ever before. Our goal is simple: we want every Ohioan to know that if they’ve left something behind, we’re here to help them get it back.”
