Press Releases

SACRAMENTO—State Controller Malia M. Cohen urges Californians to search for lost or forgotten funds on this third annual National Unclaimed Property Day!

“The Controller’s Office is safeguarding millions of properties,” said Controller Cohen, California’s chief fiscal officer and administrator of the state’s Unclaimed Property Program. “This is money that belongs back in the hands of Californians. Visit claimit.ca.gov to see if any of these funds belong to you.”

According to National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA), nearly 33 million – or 1 in 7 – people nationwide have properties waiting to be claimed. 

California’s unclaimed property program is administered by the State Controller’s Office (SCO), which currently holds more than 70.4 million unclaimed properties worth a total of $11.9 billion. Since 1959, this consumer protection program has been designed to ensure businesses and other entities return properties belonging to a customer with whom they have lost contact. Common types of unclaimed property include bank accounts, stocks, bonds, uncashed checks, insurance benefits, and safe deposit box contents. Searching and claiming property with SCO is always free.

Businesses and organizations can visit the updated SCO Reporting Resources site for tips and tools to help meet their obligations under California’s unclaimed property law. 

NAUPA directs people who have lived or had accounts outside of California to visit ucpday.com to determine if another state is holding their property. Individuals are encouraged to search their name, a maiden name, or the name of a business or non-profit. Every search is free. 

As the chief fiscal officer of California, Controller Cohen is responsible for accountability and disbursement of the state’s financial resources. The Controller has independent auditing authority over government agencies that spend state funds. She is a member of numerous financing authorities, and fiscal and financial oversight entities including the Franchise Tax Board. She also serves on the boards for the nation’s two largest public pension funds. Follow the Controller on Twitter at @CAController and on Facebook at California State Controller’s Office.

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