February 1, 2026 – Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs is encouraging residents to search for unclaimed money and property through the state’s ICash program to celebrate National Unclaimed Property Day today.
The Treasurer’s Office estimates that about one in four adults who search the ICash database discover unclaimed property in their name. Frerichs recommends checking the website several times a year and searching the names of relatives and friends as well.
“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,” Frerichs said. “The ICash site is available anytime, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
Unclaimed property can include forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks, unpaid life insurance benefits, and the contents of abandoned safe deposit boxes. By law, when financial institutions or companies are unable to locate owners, the property is transferred to the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office, which is required to safeguard and return it to rightful owners or their heirs.
During 2025 alone, nearly 545,000 people received almost $294 million in missing money, with the average claim totaling $539.
Officials say the state has worked to simplify the claims process by reducing paperwork, expanding online claims, returning some funds automatically through the Enhanced Money Match program, and offering a Spanish-language version of the ICash website.
National Unclaimed Property Day was launched in 2021 by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators to increase public awareness about missing money programs nationwide.
More information about unclaimed property and how to search for missing money is available HERE.
