Money found in state’s Unclaimed Property program

May 23, 2024 (Helena, Ark.) – Auditor of State Dennis Milligan’s office, along with Rep. Mark McElroy, presented a check to Helena Tourism today in the amount of $9,915 for unclaimed property the organization had in the Great Arkansas Treasure Hunt.

Unclaimed property can be any number of financial items, such as insurance premium overpayments, unreimbursed utility deposits, uncashed checks, contents of safety deposit boxes, etc. Anyone could have unclaimed property, including individuals, businesses, nonprofit organizations or heirs of a deceased family member.

When owners abandon an account – through a move or a death, for instance – and the holder of the property cannot locate the owner, the money or properties are submitted to the Auditor of State’s office. The Auditor’s office is required to return unclaimed property back to citizens.

“Since I took office in January 2023, we’ve returned more than $30 million to citizens through the Great Arkansas Treasure Hunt,” Milligan said. “We will continue to be proactive in our outreach in order to get this money back into the hands of the people where it belongs.”

To see if you or your organization has unclaimed property in Arkansas, visit www.claimitar.gov.

Pictured are Rep. Mark McElroy (left); Advertising & Promotion Commission Executive Director Helen Halbert (center); and Commission members Patrick Roberson, Matthew Harvey, and Don Etherly.

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Dennis Milligan was elected Auditor of State in 2022. The Auditor’s office is responsible for ensuring payroll for more than 700 state government elected officials, prosecuting attorneys and deputy prosecutors. The office also administers the state’s Unclaimed Property Program, The Great Arkansas Treasure Hunt. Learn more at https://auditor.ar.gov/.