New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli is reminding New Yorkers on National Unclaimed Property Day that they may have money waiting for them, and it only takes a few minutes to check osc.ny.gov/unclaimed-funds.

Unclaimed Property Day is a national initiative to help raise awareness about forgotten funds and help reunite people with their money. In 2025 alone, the Comptroller’s office returned more than $580 million dollars to rightful owners, including creating a new fast-track program that sends checks in the mail with no claim form required.  

“Spend a few minutes on Unclaimed Property Day checking for your lost money,” said DiNapoli. “It is free, easy, and the money is yours. Lost funds can come from an uncashed check, an unused gift card or a forgotten refund, even small amounts can add up.”

Unclaimed funds occur when people forget about or lose track of their money. These funds can come from utility deposits, trust funds, old bank accounts, uncashed checks or unused gift cards. These funds never expire, and it is quick and easy to check the website.

Thanks to a new law championed by DiNapoli, New Yorkers are seeing faster returns for some lost money. In January 2025, the Office of Unclaimed Funds (OUF) began mailing checks for certain newly reported accounts of $250 or less to eligible individuals. More than 155,000 checks, totaling over $13.6 million, have already been sent.

Every day, the State Comptroller’s office returns over $2 million and can track and uncover lost financial assets dating as far back as the 1940s.

To help New Yorkers claim what’s theirs, staff from the State Comptroller’s office attend community events across the state…