CFO Jeff Atwater Announces Record-Breaking Unclaimed Property Returns

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – (RealEstateRama) — Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater today announced that the Florida Division of Unclaimed Property, which operates under the direction of the CFO and the Department of Financial Services, completed another record-breaking month of returns in October. During October, the Division processed and paid more than $33 million in claims. Nearly 58,000 claims were processed and the resulting funds were returned back to the rightful owners. The previous highest month on record with $32.1 million returned was February 2016.

“The Division of Unclaimed Property yet again has raised the bar in its mission to reconnect Floridians with their unclaimed property,” CFO Atwater said. “It is our goal to return every dime of unclaimed property back to its rightful owner, and I’m proud to see that our proactive efforts to do so are paying off.”

More than $1.4 billion in unclaimed property has been returned to rightful owners since CFO Atwater took office in 2011. That amounts to more than 40 percent of all returns since the program was created in 1961. Accounts valued at more than $1.5 billion remain to be claimed. Accounts are available to claim at any time and at no cost.

Currently, the Department holds unclaimed property from dormant accounts in financial institutions, insurance and utility companies, securities and trust holdings. In addition to money and securities, unclaimed property includes tangible property such as watches, jewelry, coins, currency, stamps, historical items and other miscellaneous articles from abandoned safe deposit boxes. Until claimed, unclaimed money is deposited into the state school fund, where it is used for public education.

Visit https://www.fltreasurehunt.org to check for accounts that the unclaimed property program may be holding onto for you or your business.

# # #

Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, a statewide elected official, oversees the Department of Financial Services. CFO Atwater’s priorities include fighting financial fraud, abuse and waste in government, reducing government spending and regulatory burdens that chase away businesses, and providing transparency and accountability in spending. Follow the activities of the Department on Facebook (FLDFS) & Twitter (@FLDFS).

Contact: Ashley Carr
(850) 413–2842