It's not every day you walk away from the State Fair with more than a stuffed animal and a stomach full of funnel cake. For 488 fairgoers, this year's N.C. State Fair was a payday. North Carolina's Department of State Treasurer's unclaimed property program, NCCash.gov, had a booth at the fair where attendees could check to see if they had any unclaimed property. By the end of the event, they had returned a substantial sum. "By the final fireworks on Sunday night, 488 fairgoers had found $185,796," reports the State Treasurer's press release.
In a move to actively reconnect people with their lost assets, NCCash.gov is shining light on a trove of funds that have been escheated, or turned over, to the Department of State Treasurer (DST). These aren't just a couple of coins found under the couch cushions. The website is holding close to a staggering $1.4 billion in unclaimed money. To be more precise, the funds represent 24 million properties spread out over more than 27.5 million owners across the state.
What exactly falls under the umbrella of "unclaimed property." It spans a variety of assets, from forgotten bank accounts and wages to utility deposits, insurance policy proceeds, and even the contents of safe deposit boxes. According to the State Treasurer's website, these are funds that have managed to slip through the cracks of daily life — for any number of reasons.
The common thread among these cases of unclaimed property tends to be forgetfulness or oversight, linked to changes of residence without updated contact information, or simple clerical errors that could make someone's dues fail to timely reach them. Missed your chance at the fair? Not to worry. The treasure hunt isn't over. NCCash.gov is accessible year-round for anyone to make a claim.
