How to claim unclaimed money in Minnesota
The Minnesota Department of Commerce currently protects more than $834 million in unclaimed property — old bank accounts, uncashed checks, and insurance payouts, all sitting with the state until someone comes looking. The department has already returned over $729 million to rightful owners. Here’s exactly how to find out if any of it belongs to you — and how to get it back for free.
Unclaimed property ends up with the state when a bank, employer, insurer, or utility loses touch with the rightful owner. Under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 345, most bank accounts and financial assets are presumed abandoned after three years of no owner contact, while money orders take seven years, traveler’s checks take fifteen years, and safe deposit box contents turn over after five years of an expired, unpaid lease. Once that period passes, the holder must report and remit the property to the Minnesota Department of Commerce. From there, the state holds it under your name — with claims averaging around $2,080 — waiting for you to claim it.
Search the official Minnesota Unclaimed Property database with your current and past names.
Open Minnesota search guide →Common ways people end up owed money in Minnesota
You don’t need to still live in Minnesota for the state to be holding something in your name. Most claims trace back to something ordinary:
- Closed a bank account and left a small balance behind
- Never cashed a payroll check, insurance payout, or matured CD
- Moved and forgot to alert a bank or stockbroker of a new address
- Inherited from a relative who held an account or safe deposit box in Minnesota
- Owned stock, dividends, or bonds tied to a Minnesota-based company
- Left a utility deposit or refund unclaimed after moving
Step-by-step: claiming your money in Minnesota
-
Search every name you’ve used
Try your current legal name, maiden name, nicknames, and past spellings on the official Minnesota Find Missing Money search. Property is often filed exactly as it was reported years ago.
-
Confirm the listing is yours
Match the last known address, employer, bank, or company name in the record to somewhere you’ve actually lived, worked, or banked before you move on to filing.
-
File the claim online
Submit your claim with all required signatures and documentation connecting you to the property. Send copies rather than originals, and keep your own copies of everything you submit.
-
Wait for review and payment
Complete claim packets are generally processed within 90 days. Incomplete packets trigger a follow-up letter requesting what’s missing, which can add months to the timeline — so double-check your documentation before submitting.
Unclaimed property is filed under your address at the time — not where you live now. If you’ve ever moved to or from Minnesota, worked elsewhere, or banked in another state, that state may owe you too.
Check every state you’ve lived in →Frequently asked questions
Is it free to search for unclaimed money in Minnesota?
Yes. Searching the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s Unclaimed Property database is free, and the Department never charges a fee to file a claim for money that is rightfully yours.
How much unclaimed property does Minnesota hold?
The Minnesota Department of Commerce currently protects more than $834 million in unclaimed property, and has returned over $729 million to rightful owners to date.
Is Minnesota unclaimed money a scam?
No — unclaimed property programs are run directly by state government, in Minnesota’s case the Department of Commerce. The only real risk is third-party finder services that charge a fee for a search you can do yourself for free.
What happens if I never claim my money?
Minnesota holds unclaimed funds for the rightful owner or their heirs with no filing deadline, so there’s no rush to search — you can check at any point, even decades later.
Ready to check? Start with the Minnesota unclaimed money search guide, then use the full 50-state checklist to cover every place you’ve ever lived.
