POUGHKEEPSIE – State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli was in Poughkeepsie on Friday to deliver a check to Dutchess County Clerk Brad Kendall as part of the “Unclaimed Funds” program managed by DiNapoli.
Kendall met the state’s top fiscal manager in front of the Dutchess County Office Building to accept the check worth $837.50 before they left for a naturalization ceremony.
DiNapoli said that his office is currently safeguarding more than $16 billion in unclaimed funds. Banks, insurance companies, corporations, and the courts are among the many organizations required by law to report dormant accounts to the state comptroller. These organizations must attempt to notify eligible recipients by mail and publish the information in newspapers. Despite these efforts, many funds remain unclaimed and are turned over to the Office of the State Comptroller. New Yorkers can search for money they might be owed on DiNapoli’s website for unclaimed funds.
` Comptroller DiNapoli and his office are very responsive in returning unclaimed funds. I encourage people to check the website regularly to see if they have money that is rightfully theirs,” Kendall said.
DiNapoli said that much of the money is the result of old bank accounts, stocks, dividends, and other financial accounts. Many of the payouts are less than $100 and the claims are settled in little time. There is no fee for the service. A fact sheet about the program can be found here.
“If eligible, DiNapoli said, “You’ll get a check back in a matter of days,” upon verification of the submitted claim. The comptroller also encouraged people to check the website for unclaimed funds associated with deceased relatives. State law allows rightful heirs of deceased relatives to claim funds.
