Bankof America – Hey, Californians! Do any of these unclaimed billions belong to you? – Orange County Register

Attention, Gavin Newsom: Your name is on $90 in unclaimed cashier’s checks held by the state controller.

Joseph R. Biden, there’s $250 from Times Mirror -— the company that once published the Los Angeles Times and was consumed by Tribune Co. in 2000 — in your name.

And Donald Trump, there’s still $3,000 from Bank of America in your name that might come in handy right about now.

California Controller Betty Yee celebrated the first National Unclaimed Property Day on Feb. 1 by urging folks to search the state’s online database of forgotten funds, where more than $10.2 billion waits to be reunited with its rightful owners. That’s up nearly $1 billion since 2019, even though $258 million in unclaimed property has been returned in the past fiscal year.

“We watch over all sorts of properties you might not know exist, from a rebate that was returned to sender after a move, to bonds your grandmother bought in your name,” Yee said in a prepared statement. “It is so worthwhile to take a few minutes to search and discover whether you have funds coming your way.”

Matchmaking begins at claimit.ca.gov. Even if you’ve recently searched and claimed property, it’s worth doing again, as it can quickly pile up. Search by variations of your name, the name of a business or nonprofit organization, the name of your parents or friends or children.

For smaller claims with clear proof of ownership, you can file online and often have a check within weeks, Yee said. You can also prod those friends, family members, and even state and national political figures to claim their own as well.

So just how does $10 billion pile up? California has an unclaimed property law that doesn’t allow banks, insurers, corporations, etc., to keep your stuff. Instead, companies must report and submit the bounty to the state controller, California’s chief fiscal officer. That includes forgotten or abandoned bank accounts, uncashed checks, stocks, bonds, wages, safe deposit box contents and the like. The law kicks in when there has been no activity on an account for a certain period of time, generally three years, Yee said.

The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators is pushing to raise public awareness about this “important consumer protection.” One in every 10 people nationwide has forgotten property stashed away somewhere, waiting to be claimed, it said.

If you’ve lived outside of California, or have held accounts in other states, you’re counseled to visit the NAUPA site to search for unclaimed properties beyond the Golden State’s boundaries as well.

If you have questions or need help filing a claim in California, contact the controller’s unclaimed property division at 800-992-4647. They can help with more complicated claims, such as if you’ve found money that belonged to a dear departed relative. You can also seek help with more complex claims by filling out the contact form at sco.ca.gov. A team of property owner advocates is ready to help walk you through the process, spokeswoman Jennifer Hanson said.

This reporter claimed hundreds in her name in 2019, and more than $200 after Yee’s latest reminder. It may be worth noting that there are eight abandoned items in the name of Betty Yee from San Francisco, totaling $1,182.47.

Might want to check that out yourself, Controller Yee.