$17M in unclaimed property accessible at Glenstone license office

Springfield-area residents can now search for unclaimed property while they renew their driver’s licenses or purchase vehicle tags. The state treasurer’s office announced yesterday it placed an unclaimed property kiosk in the licensing office at 1002 S. Glenstone Ave.

“The residents of Greene County have more than $17 million of unclaimed property in more than 170,000 accounts waiting to be returned. The kiosk is one of many tools my team utilizes to ensure record amounts of unclaimed property are reunited with account owners every year, and I am excited to bring this service to Springfield,” Treasurer Clint Zweifel said in a news release.

The move would make it easier for area residents to search for and claim property, particularly for those without Internet access, according to the release, and all searches are free of charge.

Meghan Lewis, a spokeswoman for the treasurer's office, said the kiosk has spent time in five other Missouri cities, and she said it is expected to remain in Springfield for about a year. 

State law requires financial institutions, insurance companies, public agencies and other business entities to turn over assets to the treasurer’s office that belong to a customer, client, employee or other owner if there have been no documented transactions or contact with the owner after a specified time period – generally five years. Most unclaimed property consists of cash from bank accounts, stocks, bonds and contents of safe deposit boxes that have been abandoned. The treasurer’s office oversees more than $874 million in unclaimed property, according to the release.

Since January 2009, the treasurer’s office has returned $234 million in claims to over 800,000 accounts, according to the release. Residents also can visit ShowMeMoney.com search for property that belongs to them.

The Glenstone license office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.