Great Arkansas Treasure Hunt adds new cash assets for claim
by May 31, 2017 9:40 pm 1,563 views
Arkansas Auditor of State Andrea Lea announced the Great Arkansas Treasure Hunt has added new cash assets available to claim. Lea reports that there is now more than $317 million owed to Arkansans.
The Treasure Hunt, which is refreshed annually, is Arkansas’ unclaimed property program. 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,” said Lea. “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.
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).