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Editor:

Readers of your newspaper will find extra value in reading your paper Wednesday, Oct. 21 when the Louisiana Department of Treasury publishes the names of individuals and businesses for whom we received Unclaimed Property money in the preceding year.

The Louisiana Department of Treasury is holding more than $900 million in unclaimed funds for current and former Louisiana residents. We are responsible for getting this money back into the hands of citizens to whom it belongs. Whether it was 10 days ago, or 10 years ago, this is your money and we will hold it for you until you claim it.

Common examples of Unclaimed Property include unpaid life insurance benefits, forgotten bank accounts, uncashed payroll checks, unused gift certificates, stock dividends and utility deposit refunds. When checks are not cashed or accounts go dormant, and the company is unable to locate the owner, the funds are sent to the Treasury for safekeeping.

We have been working to enhance technology and cut red tape in our Unclaimed Property program to make it easier than ever to claim your lost money. Last year we returned the most money in the state’s history – a record-breaking $62.7 million to 197,000 Louisiana citizens.

You can now file your entire claim online by uploading documents through our secure online portal. There’s no need to send paperwork through the mail. Best of all, our staff is able to access your claim immediately.

The Treasurer’s Office publishes the names of those who have money to claim in official parish journals across the state each year. Please take a minute to check the public notices in your newspaper to see if you or someone you know is listed. Even if you looked before, check again – we publish a new list every year. If you do not see your name on the list, visit our website atwww.latreasury.com and search (it’s easy) because we might have money owed to you from a previous year.

You can call us toll-free at 888-925-4127 for more information.

John M. Schroder

Louisiana State Treasurer