DES MOINES, Iowa – State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald is gearing up for his Great Iowa Treasure Hunt’s fall publication in hopes of returning lost money to its rightful owner.

“We are holding over $337,587.19 for Grundy County residents in the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt,” said Fitzgerald. “Throughout the years, we have had tremendous success returning unclaimed property in Grundy County. We have returned $342,728.59 for people in Grundy County, but we are always looking for more individuals. The fall publication is just one way we reunite Iowans with their lost treasures.”

The Great Iowa Treasure Hunt program has returned over $198 million in unclaimed property to more than 468,000 individuals since Fitzgerald started it in 1983. Unclaimed property refers to money and other assets held by financial institutions or companies that have lost contact with the property’s owner for a specific period of time. State law requires these institutions and companies to annually report and deliver unclaimed property to the state treasurer’s office, where it is held until the owner or heir of the property is found. Common forms of unclaimed property include savings or checking accounts, stocks, uncashed checks, life insurance policies, utility security deposits and safe deposit box contents.

Visit the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt at GreatIowaTreasureHunt.gov to begin your search. Be sure to like Great Iowa Treasure Hunt on Facebook and follow the program on Twitter (@GreatIATreasure).