Rhode Island Added $23 Million To Unclaimed Money In 2019

If you're hoping to start 2020 off with a little extra cash in your pocket, it may be worth checking the state's lost money database to see if you've left anything on the table. According to Rhode Island Treasurer Seth Magaziner, the Unclaimed Property division received an additional $23 million last year, bringing the total unclaimed amount to more than $389 million.

In just one day, thousands of Rhode Islanders visited the "Find RI Money" website to search for their names, initiating 4,500 claims totaling $1.15 million. 400 of those claims have been verified, and checks are expected to be in the mail next week.

"My goal is to ensure that as many Rhode Islanders as possible get their missing money back in their pockets where it belongs," said Treasurer Magaziner. "Most of the time people don't even know they are missing money until they check with our office, so I encourage everyone to check our website."

In 2019, the division returned nearly $11 million to Rhode Islanders across 9,763 claims.

Unclaimed money comes from a variety of sources, including money left in old bank accounts and safe deposit boxes, uncashed paychecks, unused balances on gift certificates, unreturned utility deposits, uncollected insurance payments and forgotten stocks and dividends. The state holds the money on behalf of individuals, businesses and nonprofits until someone comes forward to claim it.

To see if you have money you may have forgotten about, visit the free website and search your name.