Florida Residents Reclaim Millions in Unclaimed Property

State returned a record $92 million to Floridians in March, with Tampa and Miami seeing the largest returns.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 5:49pm

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A close-up, high-contrast image of the heavy, industrial mechanisms of a bank vault door, representing the secure storage of unclaimed financial assets waiting to be reclaimed.The Florida Treasure Hunt program helps residents recover millions in forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks, and other unclaimed property held in state coffers.West Palm Beach Today

Florida residents have millions of dollars sitting in state coffers every year because they forget about old accounts, move without updating addresses, or never cash checks. In March, the state returned a record $92 million to Floridians, with the Tampa/St. Petersburg and Miami areas seeing the largest returns of $24.3 million and $18 million respectively. The state's Treasure Hunt program allows residents to easily search for and claim any unclaimed money or property that belongs to them at no cost.

Why it matters

For families trying to stretch their budgets, even a little 'found' cash can make a real difference. The unclaimed property program helps return money to its rightful owners and supports public education in Florida through the state school fund.

The details

Unclaimed property includes forgotten bank or investment accounts, uncashed paychecks or dividend checks, unused security deposits, overpayments, insurance benefits, and the contents of abandoned safe‑deposit boxes. Companies that lose contact with the owner of any assets are required to turn them over to the state, which then tries to find the rightful owner. An estimated one in five Floridians has unclaimed funds and property waiting to be claimed.

  • In March 2026, the state of Florida returned a record $92 million in unclaimed property.
  • The state's Treasure Hunt program allows residents to search for and claim unclaimed property at any time.

The players

Blaise Ingoglia

Florida's Chief Financial Officer, who announced the record $92 million in unclaimed property returns in March 2026.

Florida Department of Financial Services

The state agency that oversees the Treasure Hunt program, which allows Floridians to search for and claim any unclaimed money or property that belongs to them.

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What they’re saying

“Florida families could have extra money just waiting for them to claim before summertime.”

— Blaise Ingoglia, Chief Financial Officer

What’s next

Floridians can visit FLTreasureHunt.gov to search for and claim any unclaimed property that belongs to them or their family members. The state has up to 90 days to process claims once submitted with proper identification.

The takeaway

The Treasure Hunt program is a valuable resource for Floridians to recover forgotten or unknown funds and assets, providing a financial boost for families and supporting public education through the state school fund.