New York.- Current and former New York residents will have new opportunities this month to receive in-person guidance on forgotten funds, money from bank accounts, checks, deposits, insurance benefits, or other assets that became inactive and were transferred to the State.
The Office of the New York State Comptroller, led by Thomas P. DiNapoli, is holding a series of community outreach events throughout September where staff will assist citizens in searching the official database and learning the process for filing a claim.
This type of property may include savings or checking accounts, uncashed checks, dividends, utility deposits, insurance policies, stocks, bonds, and other assets that have remained inactive for a certain period of time. Banks, insurance companies, businesses, and other entities must turn these funds over to the State when they are unable to locate their owners.
The Comptroller reports that it currently returns more than 2 million dollars a day in unclaimed money. During the 2025-2026 state fiscal year, the Unclaimed Funds Office returned a record 651 million dollars to its owners.
Help for forgotten funds
The upcoming workshops to guide those looking for forgotten funds include three activities in New York City during September.
More Read
On Thursday, September 17, representatives from the Comptroller’s Office will be at the Chamber Business Expo, located at 199 Chambers Street, Manhattan, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
That same day there will be assistance at the CPC Senior Center Clinic, located at 4101 Eighth Avenue, Brooklyn, between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
The next scheduled event in the city will be on Sunday, September 27, during the 51st edition of Atlantic Antic, on Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn. Staff will be available between noon and 6:00 p.m.
More Read
The program also includes activities during September in Binghamton and Albany.
Check for unclaimed funds
Those who want to know if they have unclaimed funds do not need to wait for an in-person event. The inquiry can be made through the Comptroller’s Office database.
The system allows you to start the search with a person’s last name or a company name. Results can be refined by adding the first name, city, and zip code. The agency also recommends trying variations of the name and previous addresses when necessary.
If a property linked to the applicant appears and there is a relationship with the address or entity listed in the registry, the verification process can be initiated.
Claims can be filed online and the service is free. The Comptroller’s Office notes that most cases are paid within 30 days, although additional documentation may be requested to confirm identity and ownership of the funds.
To process an online application, U.S. citizens must provide their Social Security number as part of the verification. Those who prefer not to provide it online can submit the claim by postal mail. In the case of businesses, the Employer Identification Number or EIN may be required.
More Read
The Unclaimed Funds Office further clarifies that the money turned over to the State does not expire over time and that it does not charge a fee to search for or claim it.
