State Treasurer Denise Nappier might have your money. Check the special newspaper insert

 

This from State Treasurer Denise Nappier:

“HARTFORD, CT — State Treasurer Denise L. Nappier today kicked off the 2013 campaign to return millions of dollars to thousands of rightful owners from the Treasury’s unclaimed property assets. More than 54,000 names of individuals, businesses and organizations, including associations and non-profits, were published in newspapers throughout Connecticut in a publication known as CT Big List.
“The Treasury is one of the few agencies in government that gives money back to people,” said Treasurer Nappier. “We have millions of dollars waiting to be returned to owners. I encourage everyone to scan the newspaper or search our website to Find What’s Yours!”
One of the recent owners is Carol Leavitt, a shoreline resident. “I thought my money might be gone, but thanks to the State Treasurer’s Office, I was able to claim it and now I have funds to renovate my kitchen and help pay for my grandchildren’s college education. Everyone should know about the Big List and check it for their names,” Leavitt said.
According to Leavitt, approximately seven years ago, she chose to close out a bank account and move the funds elsewhere. Because she was not sure where to invest the funds, she took the money as bank checks and placed the checks in a safe deposit box. She and her husband forgot about the box until a few months ago. When they opened it, among the items were the bank checks. After checking with their current bank and the original bank, they feared that their money was gone.
But a bank manager suggested that Leavitt call the State Treasurer’s Office. She reported that, “I called the office and they checked the computer and saw my name. The Treasurer’s Office was extremely helpful and told me my funds were there but I had to prove they were mine. I did what they asked and hand delivered the paperwork. I am glad that the state has an unclaimed property program. Everyone should do their research and check the list. Treasurer Nappier wants to make sure all property is returned to its rightful owners.”
CT Big List, a 168-page newspaper insert, is one component of the Treasury’s efforts to reunite rightful owners with their unclaimed property. Copies of the insert also have been provided to town halls and public libraries throughout Connecticut.
Contact: David Barrett, Director of Communications, (860) 702-3164
David.S.Barrett@Ct.Gov
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In addition to the insert, the Treasury has an interactive website, www.CTBigList.com, which lists about 1.2 million names of individuals and entities that may be entitled to as much as $627 million in unclaimed property. The website features a searchable database — updated with new names weekly — that makes it easy for residents to find their names.
The mission of the Treasury’s Unclaimed Property Division is to safeguard assets until rightful owners step forward to claim them. Unclaimed property is money from uncashed payroll checks, banks accounts and utility deposits, insurance proceeds, liquidated assets from safe deposit boxes, stocks and/or bonds.
Since taking office in 1999, the Nappier Administration has returned more than $421 million to approximately 218,000 individuals and businesses. In Fiscal Year 2013 alone, the Treasury returned $66.9 million to nearly 18,000 claimants.
The CT Big List has 29,478 names with property valued between $50 and $100; 20,958 names with property valued between $100 and $500; 2,544 names with property valued between $500 and $1,000; 1,658 names with property valued between $1,000 and $5,000; and 207 names with property valued greater than $5,000. Two owners have unclaimed property valued at more than $100,000.
Often, people are unaware that they have inherited money, and others may simply have forgotten an old savings account or payroll check that went uncashed.
Nappier emphasized, “Searching the Treasury’s unclaimed property website is free, and it is not necessary to hire outside consultants, sometimes called ‘finders’ to pursue a search or claim.”
If you find your name, there are two ways to claim what’s yours:
 Go to the Treasury’s web site, www.CTBigList, download a claim form and follow the instructions; or
 Call 1-800-833-7318, weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
MONEY BEING RETURNED TO RIGHTFUL OWNERS AT RECORD PACE
Nappier reported that $150.4 million has been returned to more than 36,000 individuals and businesses during the two years ending June 30, 2013 — more than in any other two year period in the program’s history. During the preceding two year period (fiscal years 2010 and 2011), $85.3 million was returned.
Among the claims paid during fiscal year 2013, there were 90 claims in excess of $100,000. Additionally, there were 139 claims paid between $50,000 and $100,000; 892 claims paid between $10,000 and $50,000; 786 claims paid between $5,000 and $10,000; 3,654 claims paid between $1,000 and $5,000; and 12,323 claims paid that were $1,000 or less.”