The Oregon State Treasury is mailing about $7 million in unclaimed money to roughly 13,000 people across the state in October, with checks ranging from $50 to $10,000.
Recipients don't have to do anything. The checks arrive automatically through the Treasury's Checks Without Claims program, which tracks down owners of forgotten funds and sends payment without requiring a claim, according to The Oregonian.
State Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner announced the initiative on Friday, Oct. 23.
The funds were reported to the state in 2024 by businesses and organizations that could not return money to its rightful owners, according to a Treasury press release. Common examples include uncashed checks, forgotten bank accounts, tax refunds, credit balances and payroll checks.
"At Treasury, we believe money belongs in Oregonians' pockets, not sitting unclaimed," Steiner said in a statement.
Treasury spokesperson Delaney Chaufty told The Oregonian the state's unclaimed-property website will not show whether someone is getting a check in October. But anyone expecting one should have received a notification letter in September, she said.
How to check for your money
Even if a check isn't headed your way, the state could still be holding funds in your name. The Treasury, headquartered in Salem, encourages all Oregon residents to search for free at unclaimed.oregon.gov and file a claim online.
The state still holds about $1 billion in unclaimed funds, according to Treasury officials. Oregon's Unclaimed Property Program has returned more than $745 million to owners over the past 20 years.
Since the Checks Without Claims program launched in 2020, the state has returned about $30 million to more than 70,000 people.
Until people claim their money, the state invests it and uses the earnings to help fund Oregon's public schools.
There is no deadline to claim unclaimed property, and the process is free. Residents with questions can contact the Unclaimed Property Program at 503-378-4000 or [email protected].
