SC Treasurer’s Office Works to Return Unclaimed Funds to South Carolina Residents

The South Carolina Treasurer’s Office is on a mission to reunite residents with money that rightfully belongs to them. Through its Unclaimed Property Program, the office safeguards funds from forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks, insurance proceeds, utility deposits, and more—waiting for South Carolinians to claim what is theirs.

State Treasurer Curtis Loftis has made it his priority to raise awareness of these unclaimed funds, which total over $850 million statewide. According to Loftis, “It’s not the state’s money—it’s the people’s money. Our job is to make sure it gets back into the right hands.”

A Personal Experience

At a recent meeting where Treasurer Loftis was speaking, I decided to try out the unclaimed funds search for myself. While he was sharing stories of South Carolinians receiving thousands of dollars back, I pulled out my phone and typed in my own name.

To my surprise, I discovered I had a claim for $97. After filling out a simple online form and verifying my identity, I soon received confirmation that a check was on the way. The process was quick and easy, and I would have never known about those funds without taking a minute to look.

How to Search for Your Money

South Carolina residents can visit the Treasurer’s Office website and use the free online search tool to see if their name appears in the unclaimed property database. The process is secure and straightforward:

• Visit treasurer.sc.gov

• Enter your name in the Unclaimed Property Search

• If you find a match, complete the claim form

• Submit your identification and required documents

The Treasurer’s Office then processes the request and issues a check once the claim is verified.

And here’s an extra tip: even if you don’t find anything under your own name, take a moment to search for family members, friends, or even your church or community organization. You never know what you might uncover.

Putting Money Back Into the Community

Unclaimed funds are more common than people think. Sometimes it’s a refund check you forgot about, a utility deposit you never received, or even proceeds from a relative’s estate. By returning this money to residents, the Treasurer’s Office is helping strengthen households and communities across South Carolina.

As Treasurer Loftis reminds people, “It takes just a minute to check—and you might be surprised what you find.”

For Laurens County residents and beyond, that reminder rings true. Take a few minutes today to see if South Carolina owes you money—you just might discover, like I did, that a little unexpected refund is waiting.