"The Unclaimed Property Program seeks to return various forms of unclaimed property to the rightful owners. State law says that when the holder of property (e.g., a bank, insurance company, brokerage firm, or utility company) is unable to locate the owner after a certain period of time (usually five years), the holder must send the property to the State Treasurer. The State Treasurer's Unclaimed Property Program then holds the property for the owner until the owner can be found." (taken from the Unclaimed Property Program through the State Treasurer's Office Website)