Losing track of money might seem hard to imagine, but it’s actually not uncommon to forget about an old bank account or other source of money that is rightfully yours.
It could be an account you opened a long time ago that, after one or two moves, became both out of sight and out of mind. Or it might be lost paycheck, an old 401(k), or an unclaimed pension.
In fact, roughly one in seven people have unclaimed assets waiting for them, according to the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA).[1] They report that billions of dollars in unclaimed property are currently being held by state governments and treasuries within the U.S.
If you’ve lost track of money that belongs to you, however, there’s no reason to panic, or consider the money gone for good. There are a number of ways to locate lost assets from a bank or other type of financial account, and most of them are completely free. It might take a bit of (virtual) leg work, but finding the unclaimed money due to you can be worth the effort.
Key Points
- Losing track of old bank accounts is common, with billions in unclaimed property currently being held by states.
- Check old financial documents and ChexSystems for information about old bank accounts.
- Search state unclaimed property offices and MissingMoney.com.
- Contact banks directly for assistance with locating accounts.
- Use USA.gov and other public databases to find lost retirement accounts, paychecks, and tax refunds.
How to Find an Old Bank Account
If you’ve accessed the bank account within the past year, you might be able to recover the account directly from the bank. Exactly how to recover a lost bank account will vary based on the financial institution. Your account information can be found on checks and often on old account statements.
If it’s been longer than a year, you might have to dig a little deeper to find and recover a lost bank account. To search for an old account in your name, you might start by combing through old financial records (paper and digital), including bank statements, correspondence/emails, and tax returns. You can also get information about closed bank accounts in your name through ChexSystems, a reporting agency that tracks consumer banking history.[2] You can request a free copy of your ChexSystems report at ChexSystems.com.
How to Find Unclaimed Money
When a bank or other business loses contact with an account holder, they are legally required to turn any assets over to the state, typically after three to five years (it varies by state) of inactivity or returned mail.[3]
That’s why a good place to start a quest for older unclaimed property is often through your state’s unclaimed property office. The unclaimed funds held by the state are typically from bank accounts, insurance policies, or your state government.
The NAUPA offers an interactive map, where you can click on your state and be directed to its unclaimed property office. To search for your unclaimed money, you may want to use both your current and maiden name (if you legally changed your last name).
Another good resource for tracking down unclaimed money is MissingMoney.com. This is a multi-state directory operated by the NAUPA that allows you to search by name for missing or unclaimed money.
If you belonged to a credit union in the past, it may be worth checking the unclaimed deposits listing run by the National Credit Union Administration.
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Other Sources of Unclaimed Money
Unclaimed money isn’t limited to forgotten checking accounts and savings accounts from childhood.
There are a variety of reasons you could be missing money due to you — perhaps you switched jobs and lost track of a 401(k) or pension plan. Or maybe you forgot to update your address and missed a payment or tax refund.
If you previously worked for a company that offered a pension plan, you can search the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation’s (PBGC’s) database. PBGC is a federal agency created by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to protect pension benefits in the private sector.[4]
For lost or missing retirement plan funds, you could check the National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits, which is a secure database of retirement plan account balances that have been left unclaimed by former participants of retirement plans.
USA.gov helps you search for assets due from employers, insurance companies, and the government (including tax refunds).
How to Claim Lost Money
If you find unclaimed assets in your name, the next step is typically to fill out a form or make an online request to make your claim.
Each state generally has its own rules and regulations for how individuals should go about proving ownership of the unclaimed money now being held by the government. Generally, states will require substantial evidence that the money rightfully belongs to you.
Claims usually require showing proof of identity (such as information from a driver’s license or passport), any former residential addresses, and documentation showing your right to ownership of the assets.
If the owner is deceased and you inherited the assets, additional documents are typically required. This may include a death certificate, as well as a probate court order.
Recommended: Can You Reopen a Closed Bank Account?
Are Companies That Help You Reclaim Assets Legit?
As you’re searching for lost bank accounts, you may find businesses that offer to find unclaimed money, generally for a fee. Sometimes known as “finders,” these are companies that are looking to earn money by reuniting people with their lost assets.
While it’s fine to pay someone to help you get lost money returned to you, you may want to keep in mind that you can complete a search and submit a claim for free by yourself.
It’s also a good idea to keep your eyes open to potential fraud. Unsolicited emails or letters offering to return unclaimed property to you for a fee, for example, are often scams.
You’ll want to be especially wary of an organization or individual who claims to be a part of the government and offers to send you unclaimed money for a fee. Government agencies will not contact individuals about unclaimed money, nor will they charge a fee.
If somebody contacts you regarding missing money, it’s a smart idea to do some research on the business before handing over any personal information, and also to avoid paying any money up front.
Recommended: Avoiding Mobile Deposit Scams
The Takeaway
Many people have unclaimed money floating around somewhere. Often this money comes from funds found in banks, financial institutions, or companies that haven’t been in contact with the owner for several years and, as a result, the funds have been turned over to the state.
A good place to start looking for unclaimed assets is NAUPA’s database of records from all 50 states. From there, you can find links to each state’s official unclaimed property program.
What to do if you come into some unexpected money? Whether your windfall is large or small, consider putting it in a checking or savings account that pays a competitive interest rate and charges no (or low) fees.
Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.
FAQ
Is there a way to find all bank accounts in my name?
To find lost bank accounts, start by looking through your old and current financial documents (both paper and digital), including past bank statements, emails, and tax records. You can also get information about closed bank accounts in your name through ChexSystems, which is a national reporting agency that tracks consumer banking history. While your credit reports won’t include bank account information, they will list current and closed credit accounts.
If needed, you might contact individual banks directly to inquire about any accounts in your name, although they typically require proof of identity.
Is there a way to find lost bank accounts?
While there isn’t a central directory listing all bank accounts in your name, you can order a free copy of your ChexSystems report (at ChexSystems.com), which focuses on bank account history. You can also locate lost or forgotten bank accounts through your state’s unclaimed property office. Many states offer online databases where you can search by name to see if old accounts have been turned over. MissingMoney.com can be a good place to start.
You can also contact previous banks directly or check old records (like tax returns and bank statements) to find information about old bank accounts.
How to find bank accounts with a Social Security number?
There is no central public database you can use to search for bank accounts with a Social Security number. However, some banks may be willing to do a search for accounts using your Social Security number for you, especially if you think there may be accounts in your name you don’t know about. To access this service, you may need to submit a formal request and offer proof of identity.
Otherwise you can find old accounts by combing through old records (like tax returns, correspondence, and bank statements) and contacting previous banks directly. You can also do a search for unclaimed funds from old bank accounts at MissingMoney.com.
Article Sources
- National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA). What is unclaimed property?.
- ChexSystems. ChexSystems® Frequently Asked Questions.
- HelpWithMyBank.gov. When is a deposit account considered abandoned or unclaimed?.
- Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). Find unclaimed retirement benefits.
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