More than $1.9 million in unclaimed property belonging to Independence County residents

July 24, 2025 – Auditor of State Dennis Milligan kicked off his office’s new Data Match initiative today in Batesville with a mobile office in an attempt to reunite more than $1.9 million in unclaimed property owed to current and former residents of Independence County.

“During the 2025 legislative session, the legislature unanimously approved a bill that allows my office to automatically mail unclaimed property checks to individuals, so long as the value is less than $5,000,” Milligan said. “By being here in Batesville today, we’re helping get the word out to Arkansans about my new program while at the same time helping folks who might not be eligible for automatic checks.” 

The Data Match initiative was authorized by Act 114 of 2025. The Act allows for the Auditor of State’s office to automatically return Arkansans their unclaimed money, valued between $50 and $5,000, so long as the owners’ information is validated through several identity verification processes. Unclaimed property can be any number of financial items, such as uncashed checks, unreimbursed utility deposits, insurance proceeds, and more.

“This is a government efficiency program,” Milligan said. “When I took office in January 2023, I challenged the staff to bring me innovative, efficient improvements for this office, and they have exceeded my expectations with this Data Match initiative. This effort will help my office get Arkansans their unclaimed cash more efficiently by cutting through the red tape.”

The Data Match program is a best practice currently adopted by 24 other states’ unclaimed property programs. 

Milligan began mailing letters to eligible Arkansans on July 2 notifying them they would be receiving a check in the mail for their unclaimed property within the next 60-90 days. The first round of checks are scheduled to be mailed out in early September. There are more than 300,000 properties valued at $83 million that – if they pass through the office’s multiple identity-verification programs – could potentially be returned to Arkansans.

Milligan cautioned that only individuals are eligible for the Data Match program. Businesses, nonprofits, and people owed less than $50 or more than $5,000 will still be required to file a claim online at www.claimitar.gov.

“Bottom line: This isn’t the state’s money. It belongs to the citizens,” Milligan said. “While we’re unable to automatically mail checks to married couples, businesses or multiple heirs of unclaimed property, we will still be able to return several million dollars back into Arkansans’ hands where it rightfully belongs. It’s just the right thing to do.” 

To learn more about Milligan’s Data Match program, people may visit https://auditor.ar.gov/. 

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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, Supreme Court justices, 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/.