How to claim unclaimed money in Missouri
The Missouri State Treasurer holds roughly $1 billion in unclaimed property across more than 5 million owner accounts — old bank accounts, uncashed checks, and insurance payouts, all sitting with the state until someone comes looking. About one in ten Missourians is owed money. 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 Missouri’s Uniform Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act, most property types — including savings and checking accounts, CDs, and insurance proceeds — are presumed abandoned after five years of no owner contact, while wages turn over after three years and money orders after seven. Once that period passes, the holder must report and remit the property to the Missouri State Treasurer’s Unclaimed Property Division. From there, the state holds it in trust forever, waiting for you to claim it.
Search the official Missouri Unclaimed Property database with your current and past names.
Open Missouri search guide →Common ways people end up owed money in Missouri
You don’t need to still live in Missouri 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 Missouri
- Owned stock, dividends, or bonds tied to a Missouri-based company
- Left a utility deposit or refund unclaimed after moving
Step-by-step: claiming your money in Missouri
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Search every name you’ve used
Try your current legal name, maiden name, nicknames, and past spellings on the official Missouri Unclaimed Property search, also known as ShowMeMoney.com. Property is often filed exactly as it was reported years ago.
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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.
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File the claim online
More than half of all claimants qualify for a paperless online claim. Submit your documentation connecting you to the property, and heirs claiming for a deceased owner will need additional proof of relationship.
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Wait for review and payment
The Treasurer’s office works to expedite claims, and a complete, well-documented file moves fastest. Claims involving estates, businesses, or safe deposit box contents can take longer while ownership is verified.
Unclaimed property is filed under your address at the time — not where you live now. If you’ve ever moved to or from Missouri, 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 Missouri?
Yes. Searching the Missouri State Treasurer’s Unclaimed Property database at treasurer.mo.gov is free, and all claims processing is provided at no cost to the owner.
How much unclaimed property does Missouri hold?
The Missouri State Treasurer holds roughly $1 billion in unclaimed property across more than 5 million owner accounts, with about one in ten Missourians owed money and an average return of around $300.
Is Missouri unclaimed money a scam?
No — unclaimed property programs are run directly by state government, in Missouri’s case the State Treasurer’s Unclaimed Property Division. 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?
Missouri holds unclaimed cash property in trust forever, with no time limit for filing a claim, so there’s no rush to search — you can check at any point, even decades later.
Ready to check? Start with the Missouri unclaimed money search guide, then use the full 50-state checklist to cover every place you’ve ever lived.
