State Treasurer Clint Zweifel (ZWY-ful) opened the Unclaimed Property vaults today to give media and citizens a view of some of the more unique and odd items held by his office. The more unique property comes from safe deposit boxes received after five years of no contact with the owners. Four tickets from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition held in Chicago, an uncut sheet of $1 bills and a baby bonnet are examples of property coming out of the 960 safe deposit boxes received since January.

Since taking office in January 2009, Treasurer Zweifel has returned $36 million in Unclaimed Property to more than 100,000 accounts owners.

“Each year, banks throughout Missouri send my office hundreds of forgotten safe deposit boxes and materials left in bank vaults,” Treasurer Zweifel said. “While these boxes are a fraction of the $600 million I hold, they do include many unique items – some with monetary value and some with sentimental value. My job is to return them to their owners. In fact, right now I am holding 94 military medals that have been found in safe deposit boxes.”

The Unclaimed Property received in safe deposit boxes is eventually sold at auction with the proceeds held indefinitely for owners. However, Treasurer Zweifel said he will never sell any military medal he receives. To ensure no future State Treasurer does, Treasurer Zweifel is championing legislation to forbid the sale of any military medal received in the future.

“Servicemen and servicewomen deserve to know we will show the recognitions of their sacrifice the utmost respect forever,” Treasurer Zweifel said. “While I will never sell a military medal, I want to guarantee this policy remains for future administrations, and we will be working hard to return what we have now.”

The Veterans Medals Bill, HB 1745, passed the House 153-0 and is now in the Senate. Rep. David Day (R-Dixon) is the sponsor. Sen. Frank Barnitz (D-Lake Spring) is sponsoring the companion bill, SB 846.

Beyond just safe deposit box contents, Treasurer Zweifel receives Unclaimed Property from financial institutions, insurance companies, public agencies and other business entities if there has been no documented transaction or contact with the owner for five or more years. Most of the property consists of cash from bank accounts, stocks, bonds and contents of the newly opened safe deposit boxes that have been abandoned. The average account returned is $365 and one in 10 Missourians has Unclaimed Property.

“The 14 full-time staff in Unclaimed Property are dedicated to doing a great job day in and day out. This program is something to be proud of in this state,” Treasurer Zweifel said. “Wait times are down from 43 days to an average of 30 days, and we continue to refine our processes to get more money to Missourians as fast as possible.”

To locate owners of Unclaimed Property, Treasurer Zweifel uses direct mail, legislator outreach, events, advertising and www.ShowMeMoney.com. Additionally, dedicated staff searches for owners of larger accounts, such as the St. Louis area man who received $1.6 million in January. Thanks in part to the past year’s coverage of the safe deposit boxes, the popular Princess Diana doll was returned to its owner.

“It is important to hold events like today to show the public that we do not just have money in Unclaimed Property,” Treasurer Zweifel said. “There are thousands of items waiting for their owners in our vaults.”

Following is an overview of the Unclaimed Property found in each region of Missouri:

Kansas City Region (Bates, Carroll, Cass, Clay, Henry, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Platte, Ray): $90 million in over 600,000 accounts.

Mid-Missouri Region (Audrain, Benton, Boone, Callaway, Camden, Cole, Cooper, Dent, Gasconade, Howard, Maries, Miller, Moniteau, Montgomery, Morgan, Osage, Pettis, Phelps, Pulaski, Saline): $22 million in over 200,000 accounts.

Northeast Missouri Region (Adair, Chariton, Clark, Knox, Lewis, Linn, Macon, Marion, Monroe, Pike, Putnam, Ralls, Randolph, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby, Sullivan): $6.5 million in 60,000 accounts.

Northwest Missouri Region (Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Caldwell, Clinton, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway, Worth): $8 million in over 70,000 accounts.

Southeast Missouri Region (Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Dunklin, Iron, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Perry, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Stoddard, Wayne): $12 million in over 130,000 accounts.

Southwest Missouri Region (Barry, Barton, Cedar, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Douglas, Greene, Hickory, Howell, Jasper, Laclede, Lawrence, McDonald, Newton, Oregon, Ozark, Polk, Shannon, St. Clair, Stone, Taney, Texas, Vernon, Webster, Wright): $30 million in over 300,000 accounts.

St. Louis Region (Crawford, Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, St. Charles, St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Warren, Washington): $190 million in over 1 million accounts.

For more information on Treasurer Zweifel’s Unclaimed Property Division, go to www.ShowMeMoney.com or call (573) 751-0123.