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Treasurer Smith Announces $450 Million Returned Through Great Iowa Treasure Hunt

Items from various safe deposit boxes. Photo includes an abstract and some silver coins.

State Treasurer Roby Smith announced today Great Iowa Treasure Hunt has officially surpassed $450 million returned to current and former Iowans since the program began.

“Four hundred and fifty million dollars returned is an incredible milestone, but the number only tells part of the story,” said Smith. “Behind every claim is money being reunited with its rightful owner, whether it’s a forgotten check, an old savings account or savings account a family never knew existed. My job is to get as much of that money home as possible.”

Great Iowa Treasure Hunt is Iowa’s only legitimate source for unclaimed property. Unclaimed property can include forgotten checking and savings accounts, uncashed checks, utility refunds, stocks, life insurance proceeds, contents of abandoned safe deposit boxes and more. The Treasurer’s Office safeguards the property until it can be reunited with its rightful owner or heir.

The milestone follows a record-breaking fiscal year for Great Iowa Treasure Hunt. In fiscal year 2026, the program returned a record $38.2 million to rightful owners and heirs. In addition, the program paid an all-time record of 53,194 claims during the year, 8,302 more than the previous fiscal year.

Smith has also focused on modernizing the process of returning unclaimed property. In 2026, the State Treasurer launched Money Match, an initiative that allows certain qualifying properties to be automatically returned to their owners without requiring a claim to be filed.

Not all properties qualify for Money Match, so Iowans should continue searching Great Iowa Treasure Hunt regularly. Smith encourages Iowans to search their name, previous names, previous addresses, businesses and family members at GreatIowaTreasureHunt.gov.

Connect with the Treasurer on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, to stay informed of updates and news.

A soundbite from Treasurer Smith regarding today's announcement is available for media use.

More About Great Iowa Treasure Hunt:
Whether it’s a forgotten or lost check, bank account, utility refund or safe deposit box contents, one in seven Iowans have funds in Great Iowa Treasure Hunt. As Iowa’s only legitimate source of unclaimed property, Treasurer Smith encourages all past and present Iowans to search for their unclaimed property by visiting GreatIowaTreasureHunt.gov.

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