For Immediate Release
Tuesday, 13 April 1999

 
Columbia, SC – Today, South Carolina State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jr. announced that South Carolinians can now search the state’s list of unclaimed property via the internet. " The citizens of our state can now see if SC is holding funds or property for them at the State Treasurer's website.

"The State Treasurer’s office has made it easier to return property to its rightful owners," Mr. Patterson stated as he unveiled the web site. "We need to be technologically up-to-date to serve the people of South Carolina effectively. So as an added service to our citizens, we are making unclaimed property information available on the internet. We are making the ability to search for unclaimed property more accessible."

Financial assets, such as dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, unclaimed stock shares, and forgotten utility deposits, for which the owner cannot be located, are turned over to the State Treasurer’s Office for safekeeping. Unclaimed property is held until the rightful owner can be found.

"The internet is another tool the State Treasurer’s office is using in its efforts to locate the rightful owners." Patterson continued by stating, " We are also publishing information in newspapers around the state; we sponsor a booth at the State Fair; and the Treasurer’s office maintains a dedicated phone line for search requests (803) 737-4771."

In addition to the searchable database of unclaimed property owners, the State Treasurer’s Unclaimed Property web page includes a comprehensive list of common questions. Included is a link to other states’ unclaimed property lists which allows South Carolinians who suspect they may have unclaimed property in another state to search.

Patterson concluded, "Simply put, we have just made it a whole lot easier to find out if South Carolina is holding money for you."

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For more information contact:
David A. Adams, 803/734-0380