A service of Salisbury University and University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Unclaimed Assets See Big Returns for Maryland Residents

Don Rush

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Some Maryland residents who attended state and local fairs this summer walked away with more than cotton candy and corndogs.

They found money they didn't know they were owed being held by the state.

The comptroller's office said Tuesday that officials have returned almost $330,000 to residents who discovered the money with the help of unclaimed property units set up at fairs and festivals. More than 2,000 fairgoers checked the database, and 278 discovered the state had money they were owed.

Financial institutions, utilities, insurance companies and others are required to report any bank accounts, security deposits, wages, stocks, insurance benefits and contents of safe deposit boxes that haven't had any activity or have been unclaimed after three years.

Residents can go to www.marylandtaxes.com to search for unclaimed funds.

Don Rush is the News Director and Senior Producer of News and Public Affairs at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.