Iowa's Great Iowa Treasure Hunt has returned more than $450 million to current and former Iowans since it began. State Treasurer Roby Smith announced the milestone on Oct.
7, 2026. Unclaimed property means money and assets turned over to the state for safekeeping until owners or heirs claim them. The State Treasurer says in its October milestone announcement Treasurer's $450 million announcement the program is Iowa's only legitimate unclaimed-property source.
Table of Contents
- What counts toward the $450 million?
- Why did fiscal 2026 set a record?
- Will Money Match pay you automatically?
- How do you search and claim?
What counts toward the $450 million?
The $450 million total covers all property types held by the program, not one category alone. Covered property includes forgotten checking and savings accounts, uncashed checks, stocks, life-insurance proceeds, utility refunds and abandoned safe-deposit-box contents.
Checking accounts are one common type within that larger pool. More than $485 million in dormant accounts, stocks, checks and other property still awaits claim, according to the State Treasurer's inactive-assets notice Treasurer's inactive-assets notice.
Why did fiscal 2026 set a record?
In fiscal 2026 the program returned a record $38.2 million. That total included $35.7 million in cash plus $2.4 million in share value.
The Des Moines Register reported in its July account of the record year Register's record-year report the total ran more than $8 million above the prior fiscal 2023 record. The jump shows how many older accounts, checks and shares are still being matched to owners.
Will Money Match pay you automatically?
In 2026 Iowa launched Money Match. It automatically returns certain qualifying properties without a filed claim.
Not all properties qualify for automatic return. If your property does not qualify, you must still search and file a claim to receive it.
How do you search and claim?
Iowans can search free at GreatIowaTreasureHunt.gov and then file a claim online. Search broadly, because older accounts may list a prior name or address.
- Enter current, prior and family names
- Add prior addresses and businesses
- Review each possible match before filing
- File the online claim for each property you own
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