PA Treasurer McCord Returns More Than $17,700 in Unclaimed Property to United Steelworkers

Urges citizens, businesses and organizations to search free database at patreasury.gov

Harrisburg – February 25, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — State Treasurer Rob McCord returned more than $17,700 in unclaimed property to the United Steelworkers today, as he encouraged businesses and organizations across Pennsylvania to search www.patreasury.gov to see if they too are owed some of the $1.9 billion in unclaimed property Treasury currently holds.

“The United Steelworkers have a long history of advocacy and action on behalf of Pennsylvania laborers, and this unclaimed property can help support the union’s ongoing effort to build a better future for working men and women,” Treasurer McCord said. “I hope the Steelworkers’ claim will encourage other organizations to search www.patreasury.gov and find out if they have unclaimed property waiting for them.”

The $17,738 Treasurer McCord presented to United Steelworkers officials today was from a combination of union dues, dividends, account payable checks, credit balances, checking accounts, refunds and rebates.

“This is a good example of how government and our union work together for the benefit of our members and their families,” said USW International President Leo W. Gerard.

Treasurer McCord and his Return Team currently seek the owners of $1.9 billion in unclaimed property, and Pennsylvanians have about a one-in-10 chance of finding some in their name. The Treasurer offered two easy ways to find out: visit www.patreasury.gov and type in your name in the search box, or call 1-800-222-2046, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A member of Treasury’s Return Team will assist with their search and the claim process.

The Treasurer noted people and organizations usually do not know they are owed property because “holders,” or entities that hold property owed to others, are not required under state law to contact the owner before remitting it to Treasury. As a result, Treasury each year receives millions of dollars in unclaimed property in the form of abandoned bank accounts, forgotten stocks, uncashed checks, and contents of safe deposit boxes.

Since January 2009, the McCord Treasury has collected more than $858 million in property, returned more than $419 million to rightful owners, and generated about $439 million for the state’s General Fund through the Unclaimed Property Program.

To learn more about Pennsylvania’s Unclaimed Property Program or to search for property, visit www.patreasury.gov or call 1-800-222-2046.

Media contact: Elizabeth Foose, 717-787-2991 or ">