Salem, Oregon – Oregon State Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner announced that approximately $7 million in unclaimed funds will be distributed to about 13,000 residents during October through the state’s 2026 Checks Without Claims initiative.
Unlike the traditional process for recovering forgotten money, this initiative allows the Oregon State Treasury to identify eligible property owners and send payments directly, eliminating the need for recipients to file individual claims.
The checks will range from $50 to $10,000, accompanied by a letter from the state treasurer. People selected to receive payments were notified in September that the state might be holding money belonging to them.
The funds being distributed were originally reported to Oregon’s Unclaimed Property Program in 2024 by businesses and other organizations unable to locate their rightful owners.
Such property can come from surprisingly ordinary financial transactions. An uncashed paycheck, a forgotten bank account, an unused credit balance, or a tax refund that never reached its intended recipient can eventually become unclaimed property. Investment accounts and other outstanding payments may also fall into this category.
Treasurer Steiner emphasized that returning the funds directly to residents is an important part of the agency’s responsibility.
“At Treasury, we believe money belongs in Oregonians’ pockets, not sitting unclaimed. Checks Without Claims is a simple, efficient way to fulfill our mission of reconnecting people with their money and supporting their financial well-being,” Steiner said.
The October distribution is part of a much larger effort that has already returned millions of dollars to Oregon residents.
Since Checks Without Claims launched in 2020, the program has distributed approximately $30 million to more than 70,000 people.
Looking at the broader picture, Oregon’s Unclaimed Property Program has returned more than $745 million to rightful owners over the past two decades. Yet an estimated $1 billion remains available for people to claim.
That substantial balance highlights why officials continue encouraging residents to check whether they have forgotten funds waiting for them.
Nationally, nearly one in seven people has unclaimed money, according to figures shared by Treasury.
Although the latest automatic payments will reach approximately 13,000 people, other residents do not need to wait for a letter or check.
Anyone can visit unclaimed.oregon.gov and search their name to determine whether the state is holding property belonging to them.
There is no deadline for recovering these funds. Unclaimed property does not expire, and submitting a claim through the state program is always free.
Residents seeking additional information about the October payments can visit the Checks Without Claims webpage.
Questions can also be directed to Oregon’s Unclaimed Property Program at [email protected] or by calling 503-378-4000.
For thousands of residents, the money is already on its way. For others, discovering forgotten funds could be as simple as searching their name online.
