How to Find Unclaimed Money in Your Name
Search the official, free databases. In the US, MissingMoney.com searches participating states' unclaimed property programs at once. In Canada, the Bank of Canada holds unclaimed bank balances and has a free search. In the UK, My Lost Account searches banks, building societies and NS&I, and the Pension Tracing Service finds old pension providers. You never have to pay to search or claim.
Free methods, step by step
- US: search MissingMoney.com. On missingmoney.com, enter a name in Last or Business Name and First Name and select Search. It's run with NAUPA and searches participating states together. Not every state takes part, so also check your state treasurer's or comptroller's unclaimed property site. Unclaimed.org links to each one.
- Canada: search the Bank of Canada. On the Unclaimed Properties Office site, fill in Last name or business name, First name, City and Province (and an account number if you have one), then select Search. This covers unclaimed balances from federally regulated banks. Some provinces, such as BC, Alberta and Quebec, run separate programs for other kinds of property.
- UK: use My Lost Account. It's a free service that traces lost bank, building society and NS&I accounts. For pensions, GOV.UK's free Pension Tracing Service gives contact details for a scheme if you know the employer or provider; you then ask the scheme what you're owed.
- Search every name and place. MissingMoney recommends searching previous names, common misspellings and relatives' names if you might be their heir. Repeat for each state or province you've lived in.
- Claim through the official site. You'll be asked for ID and proof of the address on file. Claims through official programs are free.
Example walkthrough
An old rental deposit
Illustrative example. The names, numbers and details are invented placeholders, not a real person or case.
NAUPA's own example describes a renter who moved without leaving a forwarding address with a former landlord. After the dormancy period, the deposit was turned over to the state. The renter found it through an official search and claimed it at no cost. To check this for yourself, search your name in each state you've rented in, plus any former names.
United States
States hold unclaimed property: dormant accounts, uncashed cheques, refunds and insurance payouts. NAUPA, the association of state administrators, runs MissingMoney.com, which searches participating states together. Searching and claiming through official programs is free.
Canada
Federally regulated banks transfer balances unused for 10 years to the Bank of Canada, after sending notices at 2, 5 and 9 years. The Bank holds balances under $1,000 for 30 years and $1,000 or more for 100 years. Search at the Bank of Canada's Unclaimed Properties Office. Some provinces run separate programs for other kinds of property.
United Kingdom
My Lost Account is a free service for bank, building society and NS&I accounts. For pensions, GOV.UK's free Pension Tracing Service gives contact details for old workplace or personal pension schemes. It doesn't tell you whether you have a pension or what it's worth; you ask the scheme.
Common dead ends, and why they fail
- "Finder" services that ask for a fee or a percentage. Searching and claiming through the official programs is free.
- Searching only your current state or province. Money goes to the place where the account or the holder was, which may be where you lived years ago.
- Exact-match searches. Typos in a company's records are common, so try variations and initials.
- Expecting the Pension Tracing Service to show a balance. It gives contact details only. GOV.UK says it can't tell you whether you have a pension or what it's worth.
What if nothing works
- Contact the original bank, employer or insurer directly; it may still hold the money.
- For a deceased relative's money, ask the program what documents an heir needs: usually a death certificate and proof of entitlement.
- Search again later. MissingMoney says new properties are added daily.
What people search for on this topic
States dominate, with dozens on Bing, and "official government website" shows people worry about scams. "Class action settlements" is a distinct, related intent.
Canada-flavoured suggestions are specific: "bank of canada", "canada free search", "ontario", "bc" and "cra". The question form is about inheritance: "for a deceased relative", "for a deceased parent".
An odd one, "can you claim unclaimed money that isn't yours", deserves a plain no.
Google's top suggestions for unclaimed money (US, captured October 12, 2026):
- unclaimed money
- unclaimed money class action settlements
- unclaimed money free search by name
- unclaimed money free search
- unclaimed money california
Autocomplete shows what people commonly type, not how many. There are no search volumes here. The method and the full capture are on our search demand page.
FAQ
Is MissingMoney.com legit?
Yes. It's run by NAUPA, the association of state unclaimed property administrators, and it's free.
Should I pay a company that says it found money for me?
There's no need. These finders charge a percentage for something you can do yourself for free on the official site.
How long does Canada hold unclaimed bank balances?
30 years for balances under $1,000 and 100 years for $1,000 or more.
Can I find a lost UK pension?
The Pension Tracing Service gives you the scheme's contact details. Then you ask the scheme what you're owed.
Is MissingMoney.com connected to Canada?
MissingMoney says some Canadian provinces take part. Unclaimed balances from federally regulated banks are held by the Bank of Canada, which has its own search.
Which Canadian provinces run their own unclaimed property programs?
British Columbia (through the BC Unclaimed Property Society), Alberta and Quebec (through Revenu Québec) run official programs for property the Bank of Canada doesn't hold, such as some provincially regulated accounts, deposits and refunds. Search each province you've lived in.
What counts as unclaimed property in the US?
NAUPA lists examples including bank accounts, uncashed paycheques and dividends, refunds, customer overpayments, utility deposits, insurance payments and safe deposit box contents.
Related guides
Also on Searches.com
Sources
Facts checked October 12, 2026 against the official sources linked on this page. Laws and fees change; check the source before you rely on a detail.