Arkansas Auditor of State Andrea Lea announced the Great Arkansas Treasure Hunt contains more than $317,000,000 owed to Arkansans.
The Treasure Hunt, which is refreshed annually, is Arkansas’ unclaimed property program. It has added new cash assets available to claim, Lea said in a news release.
Cash assets and safe-deposit box contents are turned over to Lea’s office after being deemed abandoned by the entity holding the assets, such as a business or financial institution.
“Reuniting Arkansans with their money is something I take very seriously,” Lea said. “We now estimate that 1 in 3 Arkansans has cash to claim in the Treasure Hunt. If you’ve searched in the past, it’s time to search again!”
Assets turned over to Lea’s office include abandoned bank accounts, uncashed checks, utility refunds, stocks and securities, mineral proceeds, life insurance benefits, and contents of safe-deposit boxes.
“The increased amount of cash to claim when compared to years past is due in large part to a deliberate effort to educate and provide resources to businesses and other holder entities regarding what determines abandonment and how to voluntarily turn it over to the state,” according to the release.
Arkansans are encouraged to search their names, relatives’ names, churches and businesses at ClaimItAR.com or by calling 1-800-CLAIM-IT (1-800-252-4648).