How to find 'missing' bank accounts in your name

Core Insights - Many individuals have unclaimed funds in forgotten bank accounts due to life changes or bank mergers, with states returning billions in unclaimed property annually [1][5] Group 1: Reasons for Missing Bank Accounts - Common reasons for forgetting bank accounts include moving, career changes, and bank mergers [3][7] - Small oversights, such as not cashing a refund check, can lead to funds being classified as unclaimed property [3] Group 2: Escheatment Process - If a bank account remains inactive for three to five years, state law typically requires the bank to transfer the remaining balance to the state, a process known as escheatment [4] Group 3: Finding Unclaimed Accounts - Individuals can search for unclaimed accounts through the FDIC's BankFind Suite and state unclaimed property websites [6][8] - The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators provides a centralized resource at Unclaimed.org for searching unclaimed property [9] Group 4: Steps to Reclaim Funds - To reclaim funds, individuals should contact former banks directly, providing necessary identifying information [10] - It is advisable to use only official websites ending in .gov or .org for searches and to avoid paying fees for claiming funds [13]