Illinois Treasurer Urges Residents to Check for Missing Money

National Unclaimed Property Day is this weekend, and Treasurer Frerichs encourages people to search for unclaimed funds.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 8:31am

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Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs is encouraging residents to visit the ICash missing money website to see if they have any unclaimed property or forgotten funds waiting for them. National Unclaimed Property Day is this Sunday, February 1, and Frerichs says one-in-four adults who check the site discover they have missing money to claim. Since taking office in 2015, Frerichs has returned over $2.4 billion in unclaimed property, the largest amount in state history.

Why it matters

Unclaimed property can include forgotten bank accounts, uncashed rebate checks, unpaid life insurance claims, and abandoned safe deposit box contents. By law, these funds are turned over to the Illinois State Treasurer's Office when companies and banks cannot return them to the rightful owners. Frerichs' office is legally required to reunite this money with its owners or their heirs, no matter how long it takes.

The details

Treasurer Frerichs has worked to streamline the unclaimed property claims process, eliminating red tape, making online claims easier, and returning money without the need to file a claim through the Enhanced Money Match program. His office has also started an online unboxing video series to highlight some of the unclaimed property, such as baseball cards and jewelry, held in the state's vault.

  • National Unclaimed Property Day is this Sunday, February 1, 2026.
  • Since Frerichs took office in 2015, he has returned over $2.4 billion in unclaimed property.

The players

Michael Frerichs

The Illinois State Treasurer, who has returned a record-breaking $2.4 billion in unclaimed property since taking office in 2015.

Ray

A resident of McLean County who recently received about $27,000 in unclaimed property, mostly from a cryptocurrency account that belonged to his late wife.

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What they’re saying

“This Sunday, February 1, is National Unclaimed Property Day, and I hope people will celebrate by checking our ICash website to see if they or any loved ones have missing money to claim.”

— Michael Frerichs, Illinois State Treasurer

“It was amazing I could have that experience. The Unclaimed Property Division was very helpful with me at each step.”

— Ray

What’s next

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The takeaway

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