State Comptroller DiNapoli Joins Senator Webb to Return Thousands of Dollars in Unclaimed Funds

BROOME COUNTY, NY – Today, New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and Senator Lea Webb held a press conference in Broome County to urge thousands of residents to check and see if they have unclaimed funds. Their collaborative effort was supported by Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo and Broome County Executive Jason Garnar. Together, they convened a community event dedicated to helping constituents reclaim their lost financial assets.

During the event, Senator Webb, State Comptroller DiNapoli, Assemblywoman Lupardo, and County Executive Garnar presented several organizations and local companies with unclaimed funds checks, symbolizing the potential financial benefits that await those who search for and claim their lost assets.

Unclaimed funds checks were presented to the following organizations:

• Binghamton University - $16K 
• Town of Union - $3,802
• Endwell Greens - $2,953 
• Broome County - $2,500 
• American Civic Association $1,259 
• SUNY Broome - $1,241 
• Boys and Girls Club - $263
• Broome NAACP - $99 

"Helping New Yorkers find lost money is one of the best parts of my job," State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said. "I thank Senator Webb for partnering with my office to help reconnect her constituents with their lost money. We are working to make it easy for New Yorkers to claim what is rightfully theirs and partnering with the Senator helps us spread the word."

“I am dedicated to ensuring that every resident, business, and local organization is able to recover their unclaimed funds,” said Senator Lea Webb. “By taking a few simple steps to check for these forgotten accounts, individuals can access their lost funds that may have gone unnoticed for far too long. I am delighted to partner with State Comptroller DiNapoli to help ensure that our community is able to access the resources that belong to them.”

“It’s quite common for funds to go unclaimed, due to a change in employment, misplaced check, or forgotten account. Comptroller DiNapoli and his team have been on a mission for many years to reconnect individuals, organizations, and municipalities with their lost money. Thank you to the Comptroller and to Senator Webb for hosting this event today and for spreading the word about this important service," said Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo.

Unclaimed funds, often originating from dormant bank accounts, represent a significant financial resource for individuals and organizations across New York State. Typically, when an account remains inactive for three years and the bank is unable to contact the account holder, the funds are transferred to the state, where they are held until rightful owners come forward to claim them.

The New York State Comptroller’s Office is currently the custodian of a staggering $18.4 billion in unclaimed money, with over 49 million unclaimed account records statewide. Demonstrating their commitment to reconnecting these funds with their rightful owners, the Comptroller’s office disburses over $1.5 million daily to individuals, companies, non-profit organizations, and municipalities.

The joint effort of Senator Webb and State Comptroller DiNapoli highlights the commitment of the state to empower its residents, businesses, and organizations to recover their unclaimed funds. By taking a few simple steps to check for these forgotten accounts, individuals can access a valuable financial resource that may have gone unnoticed for far too long.

For additional information on reclaiming lost funds, residents can visit www.osc.state.ny.us or contact a center representative at 1-800-221-9311.

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