State Treasurer Clint Zweifel unveils Missouri’s first prototype Unclaimed Property Search Kiosk

New search tool offers more ways for Missourians to claim $600 million in Unclaimed Property

COLUMBIA, MO – April 5, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — State Treasurer Clint Zweifel (ZWY-ful) today unveiled and demonstrated his first prototype Unclaimed Property Search Kiosk at the Department of Revenue Columbia License Office. The kiosk, developed by Treasurer Zweifel, makes Missouri one of the first states in the nation with the tool. Individuals are able to quickly search for and claim Unclaimed Property while at the license office through the kiosk.

Columbia is the first city in Missouri to receive a kiosk, which has been in test at the license office since January. The kiosk and others like it will move around the state to facilitate the return of Unclaimed Property.

“The Unclaimed Property Searchable Kiosk makes it easier for Missourians to find their Unclaimed Property and file claims. So far the average claim is $55 from 400 searches,” Treasurer Zweifel said. “In addition to being in a readily accessible location, this kiosk allows Missourians without regular access to the Internet the opportunity to search for their Unclaimed Property too. It has proven to be effective at returning lower dollar amounts of Unclaimed Property to Missourians, and this is crucial because every cent counts.”

The kiosk provides an easy step-by-step process for searching and claiming property. Users will be able to file paperless claims or can have a claim form mailed to them. Users can also sign-up for email notifications. All searches and claims are conducted in a safe and secure manner, free of charge.

“The kiosk is one of only a few in the country and the only one that allows Missourians to search for their Unclaimed Property. The license office has many different visitors each month making it a great place to remind people to check for their Unclaimed Property,” Treasurer Zweifel said. “While cutting spending, red tape and bureaucracy, my administration is returning more property than ever before through innovations like this.”

The public is welcome to visit the Columbia License Office during business hours to use the kiosk. The office is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is open the final Saturday of each month 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and the final five business days of each month 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Treasurer Zweifel has returned more than $72 million to more than 200,000 account owners since January 2009. During that time frame, the largest single return ever, $1.6 million, was made to a St. Louis area man.

Missourians can visit www.ShowMeMoney.com 24 hours a day, seven days a week to search for Unclaimed Property that belongs to them.

Following is an overview of the total dollar amounts and total accounts in Unclaimed Property found in each region of Missouri:

Kansas City Region (Bates, Carroll, Cass, Clay, Henry, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Platte, Ray): $90 million in nearly 700,000 accounts.

Mid-Missouri Region (Audrain, Benton, Boone, Callaway, Camden, Cole, Cooper, Dent, Gasconade, Howard, Maries, Miller, Moniteau, Montgomery, Morgan, Osage, Pettis, Phelps, Pulaski, Saline): $21.7 million in nearly 240,000 accounts.

Northeast Missouri Region (Adair, Chariton, Clark, Knox, Lewis, Linn, Macon, Marion, Monroe, Pike, Putnam, Ralls, Randolph, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby, Sullivan): $6.5 million in more than 64,000 accounts.

Northwest Missouri Region (Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Caldwell, Clinton, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway, Worth): $8.5 million in more than 80,000 accounts.

Southeast Missouri Region (Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Dunklin, Iron, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Perry, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Stoddard, Wayne): $13 million in nearly 150,000 accounts.

Southwest Missouri Region (Barry, Barton, Cedar, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Douglas, Greene, Hickory, Howell, Jasper, Laclede, Lawrence, McDonald, Newton, Oregon, Ozark, Polk, Shannon, St. Clair, Stone, Taney, Texas, Vernon, Webster, Wright): $32 million in more than 340,000 accounts.

St. Louis Region (Crawford, Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, St. Charles, St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Warren, Washington): $188 million in more than 1.1 million accounts.

To search for Unclaimed Property, register for email notifications of new property matching your information or to file a paperless claim for property visit www.ShowMeMoney.com or call (573) 751-0123.

About Treasurer Zweifel’s Unclaimed Property
State law requires financial institutions, insurance companies, public agencies and other business entities to turn over assets to Treasurer Zweifel’s office that belong to a customer, client, employee or other owner if there have been no documented transactions or contact with the owner for five or more years. Most Unclaimed Property consists of cash from bank accounts, stocks, bonds and contents of safe deposit boxes that have been abandoned. It also can include uncollected insurance policy proceeds, government refunds, utility deposits and wages from past jobs. Treasurer Zweifel’s office does not handle real property such as land, houses, cars and boats. There is $600 million in Unclaimed Property maintained by Treasurer Zweifel. Treasurer Zweifel never charges for the return of Unclaimed Property.