Unclaimed Funds include old bank accounts, forgotten rent or utility deposits, uncashed checks, unused insurance policies, and more. Any funds available to county parties have been deposited into Ohio Unclaimed Funds. Check to ensure your family, friends and neighbors don’t have any unclaimed funds before the Haslams get the funds for a new stadium thanks to the supermajority Ohio Republicans in the state legislature. This is YOUR money! During the Ohio State Fair, 1,200 visitors initiated claims for forgotten funds worth $633,873.00!! Check out articles to know what are unclaimed funds, how to check for unclaimed funds and how to claim YOUR missing money before the Haslams claim YOUR money for THEIR new stadium!
Ohioans recover $630K at Ohio State Fair
after Cleveland Browns stadium debate
All of the talk about using unclaimed funds for the new Cleveland Browns stadium paid off for about 1,200 citizens at the Ohio State Fair.
People were able to recoup more than $630,000 in forgotten money, thanks to the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Unclaimed Funds’ efforts at the fair.
In 12 days, 1,200 visitors initiated claims worth $633,873, the division said in an Aug. 4 news release. One person started a claim for more than $60,000 in forgotten money, the division said. The average claim for those who visited the kiosk was $527.35.
Since the division started making a presence at the fair in 2021, it has returned more than $1.6 million to Ohioans, according to the news release.
“The Ohio State Fair is more than just an event for us – it’s a real opportunity to help people,” Akil Hardy, Superintendent of the Division of Unclaimed Funds, said in a prepared statement.
The discovery of lost money comes as lawmakers march on with a plan to use $600 million in unclaimed money for a new Browns stadium in Brook Park.
The decision to use the money on a new stadium has drawn mixed reviews from Ohioans, with some saying there could be an economic benefit while others say that the money should go to its rightful owners. One expert who spoke with The Dispatch in April called it a “terrible waste of money.”
Division of Commerce urges Ohioans to check online for lost money
If you didn’t have a chance to check on any lost money at the fair, you’re not out of luck.
The Division of Commerce operates a website where those who may have unclaimed money can check for themselves. Unclaimed money can include funds from dormant accounts, uncashed checks, forgotten utility deposits, and other sources that businesses and financial institutions report to the Division after years of inactivity.
Ohioans can check for unclaimed funds on the Division of Commerce’s website at unclaimedfunds.ohio.gov. Those who want to claim any lost funds may need to review and gather any required documentation. Claim forms can be submitted through the system or through mail.
Ohio unclaimed funds:
How to check for missing money
before the Cleveland Browns get it
Cole Behrens and Sheridan Hendrix | Columbus Dispatch | July 1, 2025
Gov. Mike DeWine signed the state’s two-year budget late June 30, approving a plan to spend $600 million of state money on the Cleveland Browns’ new domed stadium.
That money will come from the state’s pot of unclaimed funds − a maneuver that Democrats and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost opposed.
The budget gives the state control of $1.7 billion in unclaimed funds. Of that, $600 million would be reserved for the Browns to build a new stadium and entertainment district in Brook Park. It also sets aside $400 million for other stadium projects and $700 million for unspecified purposes.
Unlike past uses of unclaimed funds, the plan would allow Ohio to assume ownership of abandoned paychecks and security deposits after 10 years. Ohio is sitting on $4.8 billion in unclaimed property.
What are unclaimed funds?
Unclaimed funds are lost or forgotten money that businesses and banks report to the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Unclaimed Funds after accounts become inactive. The money comes from inactive checking and savings accounts, refund/credit balances, uncashed cashier’s checks, stocks and bonds, forgotten utility deposits or last paychecks.
The state of Ohio tries to return funds to their rightful owners through a variety of means.
The average claim is $4,000, according to the division. In 2023, Ohioans searched for unclaimed funds more than 4.3 million times and filed for more than 43,000 claims. This resulted in over $139 million in lost or forgotten money being returned to rightful owners.
How do I check to see if the state has missing money belonging to me?
A page on the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Unclaimed Funds website explains how to find out whether you have unclaimed funds, how you can claim them and how to submit a formal claim form to obtain the funds.
Residents can go to missingmoney.com to search if they have any unclaimed funds. They can also use an Ohio Department of Commerce portal to search as well.
The division also posts legal ads annually in newspapers across the state listing the names of people, businesses and entities in those publications’ circulation areas who have unclaimed funds.
In addition, the division sets up kiosks at various events across the state, such as the Ohio State Fair, where people can stop by and receive help to see if they have unclaimed funds.
I have unclaimed funds. How do I get them?
First, you will need to fill out a claim form. Depending on the type of funds the state is holding, you may be required to provide proof of address, proof of identification, a social security number or a W-9 tax form. You may also need the claim notarized if it is over $3,000.
People claiming funds can upload their forms to a division webpage, where they can submit the claim form and any supporting documents. They could also mail the forms to the Department of Commerce’s Columbus office at 77 S. High St. #20.
Claims can take up to 120 days for review. If claims do not provide the necessary forms, the process could be delayed or potentially stopped.
You can also check the status of your claim on the division webpage, com.ohio.gov/divisions-and-programs/unclaimed-funds.