McRae: $150 Million Returned
By Treasurer David McRae
Since Mississippi began returning unclaimed money 43 years ago, more than half of those returns have taken place in the last five years, since I’ve been your State Treasurer.
That’s $150 million out of $300 million returned by my team alone, using a number of new strategies I’ve implemented to make getting your unclaimed money easier and faster.
If you’re unfamiliar with unclaimed money, it’s funds that get lost or forgotten over time – old savings accounts, final paychecks, insurance payments, or even inheritances. After five years of inactivity, that money is turned over to the State Treasury until we can locate its rightful owner.
When I came into office, I made it my mission to modernize this process and make it easier for Mississippians to reclaim what’s theirs. We eliminated the notary requirement, launched eClaims, and built a faster, more user-friendly system.
We’ve also taken a proactive approach through Money Matches, where we automatically reunite Mississippians with their funds (no paperwork required!) Just recently, we mailed out nearly 5,000 checks worth $1.3 million to their rightful owners.
At the end of the day, this isn’t government money; it’s your money. And my team works every day to make sure it gets back where it belongs.
Of course, unclaimed money will always exist. No matter how many checks we send, new funds continue to flow in. That’s why I encourage everyone (families, churches, small businesses, and community groups, etc.) to check regularly at treasury.ms.gov. Statistically, one in seven Mississippians has missing money waiting to be claimed.
To celebrate this incredible milestone, my team and I will be touring the state in the coming weeks, stopping in Oxford, Meridian, Starkville, Madison, Pass Christian, and Hernando. We’ll be on hand to help residents search for unclaimed money, answer Treasury questions, and even share how families can start saving for college or career training through our education savings programs. Sign up for email updates at treasury.ms.gov to receive the event locations, times, and dates.
While returning $150 million is a milestone worth celebrating, we’re not slowing down. There are still millions left to return, and I won’t stop working until every dollar finds its way home.
Mississippi Treasurer David McRae is the 55th Treasurer for the State of Mississippi. In this role, he helps manage the state’s cash flow, oversees College and Career Savings Mississippi, and has returned more than $140 million in unclaimed money to Mississippians. For more information, visit Treasury.MS.gov.
