Unclaimed property returns rise in Pennsylvania, but $3B remains up for grabs
The Pennsylvania Treasury returned $334 million in unclaimed property to current and former state residents and businesses in 2025, topping a record set the year before.
About $23.3 million in abandoned valuables, stocks and bank accounts are up for grabs by current or former Centre County residents, according to the Treasury’s most recent figures. Almost $3 billion is available statewide.
If tangible assets, like jewelry, are not claimed within three years, they are auctioned off. The most recent auction included valuable metals, rare coins and platinum rings.
Some Centre County residents have made recent claims, as the treasury held closer to $23.9 million available to the region at the start of 2025.
“Returning unclaimed property is one of my top priorities, but it’s important for Pennsylvanians to take steps to make sure their money and property doesn’t come to the state in the first place,” State Treasurer Stacy Garrity said in a Jan. 2 news release. “This is the perfect time to pause and take a look over your finances to make sure you’ve taken the necessary actions to help you and your family stay organized and prosper in the New Year.”
If you’re wondering if Pennsylvania is holding unclaimed property belonging to you, here’s how you can search it out and request any you find.
How can I search for unclaimed property in Pennsylvania?
The treasury operates a website allowing Pennsylvanians to sift through the state’s unclaimed property database.
A form on the site allows users to narrow searches by filling in their last name, company name or other pieces of identifying information. A separate database for locating unclaimed military decorations is also available.
Those who need assistance searching for unclaimed property can call the treasury at 800-222-2046 or send an email to tupmail@patreasury.gov. State legislative offices may also assist these efforts, the treasury says.
Payouts and return times may vary, the Treasury has noted. Claims less than $500 may be paid out automatically due to a new program called Money Match. Generally, smaller claims and those completed using Social Security verification are processed more quickly.
You find unclaimed property in other states by using nongovernment tools like Missing Money, operated by the National Association of State Treasurers.
